While the factors driving the opioid epidemic are complex, there is broad recognition among leading public health authorities that opioids have been overprescribed — a trend that began in the 1990s and continues to this day.
FierceHealthcare recently reported that hospitals and health systems must treat opioid addiction like other hospital-acquired conditions to reduce overprescribing. They will need to mobilize resources like they did to improve antibiotic stewardship and change their approach to pain management, according to Michael J. Scholosser, M.D., chief medical officer for the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) National Group; Ravi S. Chari, M.D., senior vice president for HCA Clinical Services Group; and Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Ph.D., president of clinical services and chief medical officer for HCA Healthcare, in a blog post for Health Affairs.
“Redefining continued postsurgical opioid use and addiction as a preventable harm and, therefore, an avoidable hospital-acquired condition, is an appropriate first step,” they said. Steps to spur change with overprescribing opioids include, engaging senior leaders on pain management, auditing prescribing patterns of doctors, and creating a sales pitch that clinical leaders can use to promote patient safety.
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The Great Plains QIN partners with providers, pharmacists and stakeholders in the region to reduce and monitor Adverse Drug Events (ADEs). A specific strategy to advance this work is to monitor Medicare consumer ADE rates on several prescription medications—one being opioids. Learn how you can partner with our team to reduce ADEs by visiting our website.