KYSOS 2026 Opioid Summit

KYSOS 2026 Opioid Summit

Registration is now open for the Kentucky Statewide Opioid Stewardship (KYSOS) Opioid Summit!

The Kentucky Statewide Opioid Stewardship (KYSOS) program will convene health care leaders across the Commonwealth to highlight best practices and community partnerships to continue to improve opioid stewardship efforts. Pain treatment options are changing; collaborations and innovative strategies are continuously improving to better treat this patient population. The KYSOS Opioid Summit is designed for quality leaders, providers, pharmacists, and emergency department staff to showcase the great strides of the program while teaching and challenging attendees to enhance current practices.

Fees and Registration
Cost of Registration: $50.00
Registration fee includes sessions and lunch.

Register Now

Target Audience: CEO, CNO, CMO, quality and clinical leaders, nurses, pharmacists, case management, emergency department staff, peer support specialists, and other health care professionals.

 

Continuing Education

The Kentucky Hospital Association is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). KBN approval of a continuing nursing education provider does not constitute endorsement of program content. This educational activity is offered for 6.3 contact hours, with offering number 5-0023-12-27-12, expiration date 12-31-27. No partial credit will be given. To receive credit, participants must sign in on the attendance roster with their name and license number, attend the full session, and complete the offering evaluation. Failure to complete any step in the process outlined above will result in non-issuance of CEU credit in accordance with KBN guidelines. KHA has also applied for pharmacy credits for this conference.

Hotel Recommendation

Holiday Inn Express & Suites La Grange
1150 Commerce Parkway
La Grange, Kentucky 40031
For best rates, click here

Agenda

8:00 – 8:50 a.m. 

Breakfast and Networking

8:50 – 9:00 a.m. 

Welcome 

Russell Coleman
Attorney General of Kentucky

9:15 – 10:00 a.m. 

Recovery is a Leadership Skill: Accountability, Stewardship, and Behavioral Change in Healthcare

Holly Hartman
Chief Executive Officer & Principal Consultant
CollabIntel Consulting Group

Recovery is not just a personal journey. It is a discipline built on accountability, transparency, behavior change, and community support – principles that directly mirror effective healthcare leadership. In this session, Holly draws from her own 16-year recovery journey and more than 20 years in health care to explore how recovery principles strengthen opioid stewardship and cross-disciplinary collaboration. This session challenges health care leaders to see recovery not only as a patient outcome – but as a leadership framework.

Objectives:

  • Identify core recovery principles that translate into effective healthcare leadership practices.
  • Recognize how early intervention and coordinated care pathways reduce risk of opioid dependency.
  • Examine how leadership behaviors influence stewardship culture within clinical teams.
  • Apply accountability-driven strategies to improve collaboration across health care organizations.

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. 

KYSOS Emergency Department Bridge Program Peer Support Specialists

Moderator: Emily Henderson
KYSOS Pharmacist

Panelists: Chris Garrison
Peer Support Specialist
CHI Saint Joseph Health London

Nikki Howard
Peer Support Specialist
Harrison Memorial Hospital

Jesse Faulkner
Peer Support Specialist
Harlan ARH Hospital

Peer Support Specialists (PSS) will present via a panel discussion on the role of the PSS and the value it brings to the health care system while providing patient testimonials.

Objectives:

  • Define an Emergency Department (ED) Bridge Program.
  • Understand and define the role of the peer support specialist in an ED Bridge Program.
  • Share patient impact stories showing the value of the Peer Support Specialist role.

11:00 – 11:15 a.m. 

Networking Break

11:15 – 12:00 p.m. 

Kentucky Alternative Recovery Effort (KARE) for Nurses Program

Lisa Sosnin
Registered Nurse/Compliance Nurse Investigator
Kentucky Board of Nursing

This presentation will review the KARE for Nurses Program including the admission and monitoring requirements, employment provisions, and what to expect when hiring a nurse in the KARE Program.

Objectives:

  • Discuss the KARE for Nurses Program.
  • Identify the role of the Compliance Nurse Investigator and how they monitor a KARE participant.
  • Understand employment requirements for a nurse in the program.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. 

Lunch and Networking

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. 

Diversion within the Health Care System

Martin Redd
Drug Enforcement Administration – Louisville Field Division

This session aims to facilitate an exchange of vital information regarding regulatory procedures and compliance. Topics covered will include reporting and record-keeping, proper registration protocols, and best practices for handling-controlled substances.

Objectives:

  • Discuss the scope and impact of controlled substance diversion in health care facilities.
  • Describe the most commonly diverted controlled substances and how they are diverted in health care facilities.
  • Explain the Closed System of Distribution and how maintaining CSA compliance reduces the risk of diversion.

2:00 – 2:15 p.m. 

 Networking Break

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. 

From Crisis to Continuity: Dismantling Stigma to Improve Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Retention

Stephanie Abel
Pain, Palliative Medicine and Opioid Stewardship Pharmacist
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

The opioid crisis has evolved, yet the stigma surrounding Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) remains a primary barrier to life-saving treatment. This session defines, highlights, and dismantles OUD-related stigma and incorporates evidence-based communication shifts/strategies shown to improve patient engagement and retention in treatment. The facilitator will also review important concepts and strategies shown to help patients transition from initial stabilization to sustained, long-term recovery.

Objectives:

  • Discuss the impact of stigma/bias on health care disparities related to opioid use disorder (OUD).
  • Describe the effects of OUD-related stigma/bias on current state or national policies and health care infrastructure and how that translates into clinical practice.

3:15 – 4:00 p.m. 

The Significance of Collaboration Between Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health in Addressing Substance Use Disorder

Patric Nevitt
Georgetown Police Department

Corey Councill
Georgetown Police Department

Andrea Bruhn
New Vista of the Bluegrass, Inc.

This session explores how partnerships between law enforcement and behavioral health providers can strengthen community responses to substance use disorders. Attendees will learn how the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) core principles for community engagement can support stronger relationships and will leave with practical guidance for initiating or expanding similar partnerships within their own communities.

Objectives:

  • Discuss the importance of real-time linkages to care.
  • Describe the ways in which the police department and behavioral health providers can deepen their relationships to better serve the community through SAMHSA’s core principles.
  • Identify how to begin a community partnership between law enforcement and behavioral health providers.

Cancellation Policy
Written notice of registration cancellation must be received five (5) business days prior to program date to receive a refund. A processing fee will be processed against each refund. No refunds will be given after March 24, 2026.