The North Carolina Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (NCSPMR) represents more than 250 physicians who focus on the rehabilitation health needs of North Carolinians. Our mission is to advance awareness of rehabilitation medicine through practice, advocacy, research and education. Though one of the smaller specialties of medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R, or physiatry) has a broad reach in North Carolina. Academic and private practice physiatrists are active throughout the state and engaged in many facets of practice, including inpatient and outpatient settings; as well as musuloskeletal, neurological, and general medical rehabilitation practices.
Many physiatrists specialize in the compassionate, but rational treatment of pain. The treatment of pain has become a charged issue and the epidemic of opioid-related deaths has captured national attention. North Carolina is no exception. In 2010, there were 702 deaths from prescription opioids in North Carolina, which was more than twice as many from cocaine, alcohol and heroin combined, according to a 2014 North Carolina legislative report. A more recent report from Castlight Health ranks four North Carolina cities in the top 25 based on abuse rate. The North Carolina Medical Board’s Safe Opioid Prescribing Initiative has documented that the top specialty investigated by the Board is Pain Management or PM&R.
This is an issue the NCSPMR takes very seriously and plans to address proactively. On June 16, in Chapel Hill, the NCSPMR will hold its annual symposium, titled “Current Challenges in Rehabilitation Medicine,” where state experts will provide detailed information on this important topic. You may also earn CME to meet the NC General Assembly’s recently enacted requirement for education on prescribing controlled substances. The NCSPMR welcomes your collaboration and support. Learn more and register.
