What We Do

Built on the model of ‘See One, Do One, Teach One,’ these two-part trainings offer didactic learning paired with an on-site observation with faculty preceptors. This format is designed to meet the needs of primary care providers seeking to deepen and broaden their skills under the mentorship of highly experienced local providers. Preceptor Trainings are CME accredited and open to MD/DOs, PAs, and NPs. 

On-site observations must be scheduled individually and are offered on a first come, first serve basis. Participants are required to complete a didactic training prior to observing at a site.

Preceptors trainings are available to refine practice in the following areas:

• Introduction to Buprenorphine Prescribing in Primary Care (MOUD Preceptor)
• HIV Medical Management (for more information contact Tiania Warner, MS at twarner@healthfederation.org)
• Incorporating HCV Services into Primary Care (for more information contact Tiania Warner, MS at twarner@healthfederation.org)

We believe that providers who treat patients with substance use disorder can benefit from talking to each other about best practices, challenges, and questions they have about serving these patients. Building a community of learners helps support professional and personal growth. Monthly sessions allow providers to meet and discuss practice issues related to opioid use disorder. Most sessions feature a guest speaker with a brief presentation followed by open discussion. Session topics are chosen to reflect current events, changes in epidemiology and policy, and provider requests.

Collaboratives are forums for providers to network with each other to discuss a range of practice issues related to a topic and learn from each others’ experiences.

HFP offers these collaboratives:

• MOUD Provider Collaborative
• Wound Care Collaborative
• Mobile Medical Team Meetings
• Perinatal OUD Collaborative
• Peer Models for Health Learning Collaborative - for CHWs/CPSs/CRSs, other peers, and Peer Supervisors (for more information, contact Kiera Kenney, MSW.

The Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction Division (SUPHR) of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health facilitates a quarterly Citywide Hospital Workgroup for Philadelphia hospitals and community health providers. The Citywide Hospital Workgroup's overall purpose is to:

Meetings provide a forum for participants to interact with colleagues across disciplines and settings to share emerging trends and discuss challenges and opportunities within substance use care.

Please complete this form to receive additional information and invitations to future meetings: https://redcap.phila.gov/surveys/?s=7WRK4DKX3TT89MHY

Additionally, SURGE develops new trainings in response to the changing issues faced by health professionals serving people who use substances.

One example of this is the Wound and Skin and Soft Tissue Morbidity and Mortality Review Workgroup, established in collaboration with SUPHR. The group began meeting bi-monthly in January 2023 to review cases and share information.

As a result of their work, the group published the Recommendations for Caring for Xylazine-Associated Wounds, which summarizes best practices for providing care to individuals with these types of wounds, and discussed these recommendations on a webinar on January 8, 2024.

Treating patients who have substance use disorder can be challenging and complicated. Drawing from the Community Resilience Model©, HFP offers programs to help providers develop resilience in order to promote wellness and protect themselves from secondary traumatic stress. These programs teach providers about how traumatic stress affects them, and gives them tools for restoring balance to their mind and body after experiencing stress and trauma.

Peers are exceptional messengers of health information and support for patients who have substance use disorder (SUD). Recognizing this, medical settings such as the emergency department, inpatient units, and primary care sites are increasingly hiring Certified Recovery Specialists (CRSs) to help patients who have SUD navigate care and connect with recovery resources. While this is an emerging field for CRSs, there is a need for continued education for CRSs to support their work with patients in these specialized environments.

In Collaboration with Penn’s Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, the Health Federation is offering trainings for peers to help increase knowledge and skill in working in medical settings.