Our Commitment to Medical Cannabis Education and Training
No gatekeeping here, we share our skills and knowledge acquired from 10 years of experience in medical cannabis care.
Santé Cannabis has been at the forefront of medical cannabis consultation and research in Québec since 2014. With over 7500 physicians and nurse practitioners having referred more than 20,000 patients, our multidisciplinary team comprises family physicians, specialists in chronic pain, oncology, palliative care, gastroenterology, endocrinology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and nurses with expertise in cannabis medicine. Beyond patient care, we are dedicated to educating healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers through both online and onsite training programs.
Over the last 10 years, we saw growing interest from the Quebec patient community for medical cannabis treatments and very few doctors were open to prescribing it. Often due to a lack of knowledge about this treatment, poor scientific evidence being available, and ongoing stigma.
A 2018-2019 survey of medical students in Quebec revealed that cannabis-related topics were minimally covered in their curricula, leading to low comfort levels among them. The majority felt unprepared to address cannabis-related issues in their future practices, highlighting a need for enhanced medical education on cannabis in Quebec’s medical schools.
Addressing the Gap in Medical Cannabis Education
As strong advocates for patient rights and medical cannabis access, we needed to address the gap in medical cannabis education. In 2019, we launched the Prescriber Training Program for healthcare professionals. Initially created for Quebec physicians, interested in learning more about clinical guidelines for medical cannabis and developing individualized treatment plans, it sparked interest from Canadian and international physicians.
With the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2018 came changes and challenges for Quebec’s medical cannabis landscape. Santé Cannabis is always adapting to the evolving industry and staying on the frontline to provide the best care to the community. Some negative points of this legalization were medical cannabis patients turning to self-medicating and accessing their medicine through recreational outlets like the SQDC. While some of the positives are less stigmatization around cannabis and more interest in training from healthcare professionals, guidance from trained healthcare practitioners remains essential to safe access.
Importance of Specialized Training
As Dr. Michael Dworkind, Medical Director of Santé Cannabis and Associate Professor of Family Medicine at McGill University, emphasizes, “It is our duty as physicians to understand the available treatment options for our patients, and medical cannabis treatments have emerged as an important clinical tool.” This sentiment underscores the necessity for healthcare professionals to engage in specialized training to effectively meet patient needs.
With the launch of our online boutique in 2024, a platform created to provide healthcare professionals direct access to a wealth of educational and training resources, we bridge the educational gap and facilitate medical cannabis education.
Through our practical education materials, we aim to empower general practitioners, specialists and, nurse practitioners and enable them to deliver the best care possible. These learning tools are accessible from anywhere at any time and adaptive to your needs and your calendar.
Additionally, we offer in-person training opportunities to help professionals enhance their skills and knowledge.
Together, let’s explore all the possibilities!
Virtual and In-Person Training
Prescriber Training Program
Recognizing the growing demand for medical cannabis education, Santé Cannabis offers a transformative training initiative for Québec healthcare professionals. The Prescriber Training Program, meticulously designed by clinicians, provides a practical approach to medical cannabis education. Developed from our years of clinical care and research we have based on real-world data and the latest research on medical cannabis treatments.
The complete Prescriber program package comprises 10 self-learning modules. In these modules, you will learn about Cannabis as a medical treatment, Patient assessment, and Prescribing. You will find treatment evidence for specific conditions and symptoms, allowing physicians to customize learning based on their professional needs. The virtual program can be followed at your own pace, however, if someone wants to focus on one subject, selected modules can be purchased separately.
For reference module 3 The Prescription Guide covers initial and follow-up treatment protocols for each indication and treatment objective, as well as product format details and drug interaction information.
The Prescriber Package also includes: a Clinical toolkit, and a starter kit of clinic forms, available for customization to your practice, including our referral form, patient evaluation, follow-up form, treatment plan form, and authorization form (Medical Document).
Viewing access to an educational video and presentation, about determining the appropriate medical cannabis treatment, also available for purchase separately.
Personal Mentorship Sessions: Group or 1 on 1 sessions to address all of yours and your teams’ training questions.
Shared Care
This service allows your medical team to request support from our nursing team on a patient-by-patient basis. Available Monday to Friday and includes direct (our nurse to your patient) or indirect (our nurse to your clinical team member) support to develop treatment plans and dosing schedules, source product recommendations, insurance coverage questions or any other needs.
The program was designed for Quebec clinics and practitioners as it includes regulatory information and guidance specific to the Quebec healthcare system. However, the medical cannabis content can be adapted and integrated into your local practice.
“I turned to Santé Cannabis in order to train myself and be able to respond correctly to demand. It gives me the opportunity to prescribe cannabis and also to follow up with my patients properly. I’ve noticed that a deeper relationship of mutual trust has developed because they don’t feel judged.” – Dr.Jerome Lopez
The course will teach you all the essentials of medical cannabis-based treatments and care, and you’ll leave with the knowledge you need to prescribe with confidence.
“They clearly put a ton of effort into setting up this training program, which demonstrates their commitment to advancing the field of medical cannabis for the health care profession. As well, Dr. Dworkind specially tailored certain aspects of my rotation to me based on my interest in palliative care and chronic pain management, as he has expertise in this area after his long clinical career. ” -Dr.Lorne Wiseblatt
Ask the Expert Sessions
One might wonder what is an “Ask the Expert” session? These 1-1 sessions are the perfect opportunity to get answers to all your questions about medical cannabis as well as to review and discuss complex patient files. They can be done virtually or by phone with one of our physicians or nurses.
In-person Training
We offer onsite preceptorships for doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurses or clinic directors that want to learn in a clinical setting. During their preceptorship, they will observe initial and follow-up patient consultations and see our model of care in action.
They can participate in patient file reviews and attend patient education sessions led by a nurse.
The trainees may debate cases and collaborate on patient care decisions and personalized treatment plans. Our team will adapt to the trainees’ needs and their schedule, whether they can commit to a full day or a half day, we will make the most of their time spent in our practice.
“Thanks to their expertise, I feel fully equipped to support my patients in the safe and effective use of medical cannabis. Thank you to Santé Cannabis for their commitment to the training of healthcare professionals and the accessibility of this therapy in Quebec.” – Dr. G. Lemire, Global MD – Saguenay, completed our prescriber training program and onsite preceptorship and will be integrating a medical cannabis consultation service into her practice.
Educational Tools and Videos
To make our training program more accessible, we have broken down the program into 10 self-learning modules. You can choose the modules you want specific to your field of practice. The self-learning modules Sleep Disturbances and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are gaining in popularity and meet a growing demand to support these patient populations suffering from uncontrolled symptoms. Other modules like Neurologic Indications or Gastrointestinal Indications can provide valuable insight and evidence-based data about these disorders.
Our educational videos are a fun way to learn, presented by a Santé Cannabis physician or nurse, they are a simple and effective way to understand the fundamentals of providing medical cannabis care in a clinical setting.
Introduction to medical cannabis covers the following concepts: medical cannabis status, the endocannabinoid system, main Phyto cannabinoids and chemovars, indications and relative contra-indications, treatment options and titration, adverse effects and drug interactions, main regulations as well as patient education.
The Santé Cannabis Model of Care; through our peer-reviewed model of care, we’ve achieved standardized patient care. Get to know the secret of our inner workings and our success as a free clinic.
The 5 Common Myths about medical cannabis and the supporting evidence to debunk them:
- The only way to take medical cannabis is to smoke it
- Medical cannabis is harmless and impossible to overdose
- There are no drug interactions with medical cannabis
- Medical cannabis causes addiction and makes you high
- CBD can be converted to THC
Clinical Tools
Our clinical materials will get you to a place where you are ready to prescribe to your community of patients. With our customizable clinic forms, you get to integrate this treatment seamlessly into your practice.
- The Patient Evaluation Form can provide targeted data collection for healthcare professionals and allow you to organize their symptoms more effectively.
- The Patient Treatment Plan Form is a clear and simple formulated document explaining the patient’s medical cannabis treatment containing valuable information like the name of the licensed seller, the name of products, dosage instructions and titration protocol and relevant precautions.
- The Patient Follow-up Form allows you to monitor a patient’s health and make adjustments to their treatment as required.
With the right tools, you can achieve your prescriber goals.
International Offering
International practitioners too can benefit from our trainings, by adapting the Prescriber Training Program, signing up for a preceptorship or a session with a mentor and using the International Prescriber Guidebook. We will help you build your confidence in patient screening and assessment for medical cannabis treatment.
“Santé Cannabis provided me with the most comprehensive training that I have ever received. The doctors and nurses welcomed me and made me feel part of the team. I am excited to take my knowledge home and to start prescribing confidently in my practice.” -Dr. Paula Martinez, MD (Neurology), Bogota, Colombia
The International Prescriber Guidebook is a complete and practical training resource for medical cannabis prescription and education, applicable across Canada and international jurisdictions.
It features:
- Active Therapeutic Compounds
- Methods of Administration
- Patient Evaluation and Prescribing Instructions
- Detailed Treatment Protocols and Product Selection by Indication
- Dosing Instructions
- Titration tables
- Follow-up and Monitoring
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Options for Prescriber Support
The guidebook is a valuable asset for international prescribers to navigate medical cannabis care with clarity and certainty.
Our Commitment
Why does medical cannabis education remain so important?
Under the Cannabis Act, the current recreational market has threatened the viability of the medical cannabis access program. This treatment option needs to stay available and be considered as a complementary and adjuvant treatment when conventional medications fail. It can support medication substitution including opioids, benzos, etc, and even improve the quality of life of countless patients.
Santé Cannabis remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to integrate medical cannabis into patient care safely and effectively.
Through clinical research and real-world data, together we can bring progress to medical cannabis care.
The landscape of medical cannabis is rapidly evolving, and staying informed is crucial for healthcare providers aiming to offer comprehensive patient care. Santé Cannabis’s training materials serve as a valuable resource, equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills required to navigate this field confidently.
We know you can find your medical cannabis community of practice with us.
Ready? Train with us!
For more continuing education opportunities
Author:
Alexia Bellemare