University of Vermont Project ECHO
University of Vermont Project ECHO Safer Opioid Prescribing: Compassionate Tapers and Buprenorphine Transitions
This 5-part series on “Safer Opioid Prescribing” will review best practices and evidence-based care for patients with
chronic pain treated with opioids. This will include recommendations on how to identify patients at higher risk of
complications and to provide compassionate tapering approaches. For patients in whom tapering is a challenge,
we will focus on effective strategies in transitioning to buprenorphine given its favorable safety profile.
This program is offered at no cost to participants through a grant from the Vermont Department of Health.
Participants can receive CE credits for each learning session attended.
General questions about the University of Vermont’s Project ECHO can be directed to Patti.Smith-Urie@uvm.edu, clinical/topic-specific questions can be directed to Mark.Pasanen@uvmhealth.org.
October 20, 2025 - December 15, 2025
Safer Opioid Prescribing: Compassionate Tapers and Buprenorphine Transitions
Course Director: Mark Pasanen, MD
University of Vermont Project ECHO Safer Opioid Prescribing: Compassionate Tapers and Buprenorphine Transitions Program Overview
Session Date | TeleECHO Session | Session Topic | Session Materials |
October 20
| Session 1 | Opioids for Chronic Pain: Balancing Risks and Benefits | |
| November 3 | Session 2 | Compassionate Tapering Strategies | |
| November 17 | Session 3 | Transitioning to Buprenorphine: Introduction | |
| December 1 | Session 4 | Transitioning to Buprenorphine: Putting into Action | |
| December 15 | Session 5 | Advanced Case Discussions of Transitions to Buprenorphine | |