The Role of Hospitals in the Opioid and Overdose Epidemics
On Friday, January 12, 2018, Dr. Michael Mendoza, a professor and the commissioner of public health in Monroe County, NY, spoke to Pandion Optimization Alliance’s Healthcare: Education and Advocacy's Board of Directors, which is comprised of the leaders of 17 hospitals and healthcare systems, about the role of health care and public health in the opioid crisis.
His presentation made the following distinctions that one doesn’t necessarily take into account when thinking about the opioid epidemic.
Addiction vs. Overdose
It’s important to understand the difference between the two. Addiction is a chronic illness while overdose is an acute illness often exacerbated by a chronic illness. The two are not one in the same and all overdoses are not linked to addictions. Some overdoses are accidental while addictions are a disease- which is not a choice.
Opioid Overdose is also an Epidemic
Opioid overdoses are a separate epidemic that needs to be addressed. This can be linked to both patients and prescribers. While in recent years there’s been a decrease in prescription opioids in Monroe County, this has led to the abuse of other opioids. Plus, past prescribing habits have helped paved the way for this abuse. In 2010, enough painkillers were prescribed to medicate every adult in the US, around the clock, for a month.
Pain as a Vital Sign
How can Hospitals help to alleviate these issues? Mendoza suggests by revisiting their current policies and procedures. For example, clinicians can stop treating pain as the 5th vital sign and hospitals should not provide patients with unrealistic expectations. For example, if a patient has surgery they shouldn’t expect to have zero pain during their recovery.
When discussing the need for public health surveillance, Mendoza points to the need for the community to better target the problem. Pandion may be in a unique position to help collect actionable data in real time across the hospitals in the region as it provides a forum for shared challenges and best practices. There are opportunities for hospital systems to convene on common protocols within the emergency departments or potential for cross-hospital system networks of treatment providers to efficiently direct patient flow within the community.
Please join Pandion in a multi-hospital and regional effort to collect actionable data on the opioid crisis, which will drive community resources towards targeted education, prevention, and treatment efforts. For information on this initiative, please contact Amie Kulak at akulak@pandionalliance.com
Pandion Healthcare: Education and Advocacy
Operating via our not-for-profit 501(c)3 and 501(c)6 organizations, we utilize our collective strength to convene regional healthcare leaders and provide critical access to peers, lawmakers, thought leaders, and educational resources. Synthesizing best practices through data analytics, strongly advocating for members, and partnering with regional, state, and national players ensures your success. For more information visit www.pandionalliance.com