Training and Information for Medical Providers

Information Packet

The following links will create a informational packet of documents for you to print or download and give to a medical provider who has encountered or may encounter a child or adult with an FASD.

FASD-Informed Certificate

Spend 2 hours reading and viewing the resources on this page. Then take a short quiz and obtain your certificate. Coming soon!!

Issues

Although FASD is a medical condition, medical professionals rarely receive adequate training in FASD in school
FASD is complex to diagnose and to treat
Lack of knowledge about FASD can lead to uncertainty
It can be difficult to ask about a mother’s alcohol use
Stigma around FASD can prevent recognition of the condition
Alcohol is a very commonly used and accepted substance in society
People with FASD need a life-long care plan and supports that are outside the medical practitioner’s field
Resources for referral are difficult to find or non-existent

Resources

FASD TRAINING FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS (Physicians, Allied Health, AODA, Mental Health providers)

Medical Providers should screen for alcohol use during pregnancy and the potential of FASD with any developmental concerns arise. Persons with an FASD will require life-long care and coordination of medical and social supports. They often have a number of associated physical and cognitive challenges which may include: vision, hearing, organ systems, sensory, regulatory, speech, motor, learning, behavioral, addiction, mental health conditions. Because of the complexity of the medical needs of individuals with FASD, they are perfect candidates for the Medical Home Model.

The Issues

DIAGNOSIS!

“We also observed a significant reduction in the risk of adverse life outcomes with an earlier diagnosis. We therefore believe that physicians can be important facilitators of improved outcome for patients born with FASD: by systematic querying about maternal alcohol history in patients of any age suspected of alcohol-related disabilities, by making the diagnosis themselves and/or by making appropriate referrals as indicated, by encouraging parents to take an active role in advocating for their children at school and in the community, and by using their experience to improve community supports.” (Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Vol. 25, No. 4, August 2004 Copyright # 2004 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. Printed in U.S.A. Risk Factors for Adverse Life Outcomes in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects ANN P. STREISSGUTH, PH.D., et.al.)

Patients with FASDs and their families often require multiple providers and partners to assist in their management. As such, employing care plan development and maintenance can assist primary care providers in combining necessary information into one document.

NEW: THE SAFEST CHOICE LEARNING COLLABORATIVE

The SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative, a joint project of Proof Alliance and the Boston Medical Center, is a virtual FASD medical training program for teams at health centers and tribal clinics in the Upper Midwest and New England. Participating clinics are grouped into prenatal- or pediatric-focused cohorts to learn specialty-specific core competencies: the Prenatal Cohort will learn screening techniques and how to effectively counsel patients on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, while the Pediatric Cohort will learn how to screen children and adolescents who may have FASD. Together, these courses offer medical providers a streamlined guide to prevent and address FASD across the lifespan.

Cost of participation will be covered by the program, which receives funding from the Health Resources and Human Services Administration (HRSA). Each health center will receive:

Free Continuing Education (CME, CNE, and Social Work) and MOC Part 2 credits
Ongoing, individualized training and assistance to address implementation challenges
A modest stipend

The program will begin in May, 2022. After an introductory webinar there will be ten 60-minute virtual ECHO ® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) sessions held on one Monday morning per month and delivered over the course of 12 months. Each session will provide a brief lecture by experts, case-based learning and collaborative problem-solving. No clinical data reporting will be required. Participating clinics are encouraged to invite all appropriate staff who will be involved in implementation of FASD prevention and care; this may include family physicians, pediatricians, OB/GYNs, NPs, PAs, CNMs, other medical personnel, behavioral health staff, and paraprofessionals such as community health and outreach workers.

For more information, contact safestchoice@bmc.org.

FREE ONLINE TRAININGS ON FASD FOR PHYSICIANS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Free, online trainings are available for healthcare providers who care for women at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy, and for those who work with individuals living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). These online trainings provide strategies to improve the delivery of care related to FASDs and their prevention.

CDC – FASD Training and Resources

Pedialink Courses on FASD

RESOURCES

AAP Toolkit

AAP FASD Toolkit – FASD Care Plans

Wisconsin Medical Home Initiative

Medical Home Brochure

ANTICIPATORY GUIDANCE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD): PRACTICE POINTS FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Dr. Larry Burd – University of North Dakota

FASD SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND REFERRAL

SEE the following article for an in-depth discussion of issues and approaches to identification and referral: Turchi RM, Smith VC, AAP COMMITTEE ON SUBSTANCE USE AND PREVENTION, AAP COUNCIL ON CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. The Role of Integrated Care in a Medical Home for Patients With a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2018;142(4):e20182333

Research –

Misdiagnosis and Missed Diagnoses in Foster and Adopted Children With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure – Ira J. Chasnoff, Anne M. Wells, Lauren King

Diagnosing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome More Easily

FASD AND CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH, AODA, AND TREATMENT ISSUES

Behavioral Management Plans

This guide reviews screening tools for alcohol use and interventions. It also outlines methods for identifying people living with FASD and modifying treatment accordingly.

Addressing FASD in Treatment

Guidance for diagnosing ND-PAE from CDC.gov

Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Neuropsychological and Behavioral Features

The Role of Nurses in Diagnosis and Treatment of FASD

How to screen for & manage FASD in a medical home – Great article on a critically needed part of your practice

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – AAFP – An article by the American Academy of Family Physicians on FAS and FASD.

Psychotropic Medication Algorithm for FASD/Prenatal Alcohol Exposure – When considering psychotropic medication for a patient with FASD or prenatal alcohol exposure, please consult this psychotropic medication algorithm for individuals diagnosed with FASD or prenatal alcohol exposure.