APP Opiate Management Initiative
Delivering Safer Care Through Responsible Opiate Prescribing
Objective
To set an evidence-based standard for Opiate utilization and ensuring our provider team is consistently delivering safe care through responsible opiate prescribing.
Background:
In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates.
Increased prescription of opioid medications led to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription opioids before it became clear that these medications could indeed be highly addictive.
Drug overdose deaths and opioid-involved deaths continue to increase in the United States.
Deaths from drug overdose are up among both men and women, all races, and adults of nearly all ages. More than 2 million Americans are opiate dependent today. Approximately 90 Americans die every day from Opiate overdoses.
APP Opiate Prescribing Guidelines:
APP requires all Providers to be registered with their state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to allow for monitoring of Opiate utilization.
When Opiates are prescribed limit all Opiate prescriptions to 3 days or less and < 180 MME (Milligram Morphine Equivalents)
Opiate Prescribing is consistent and in compliance with all State Prescribing Guidelines
If you suspect Opiate abuse then consult the PDMP and if appropriate then refer patient for outpatient treatment.
Educate patient on dangers of addiction and dependency with all Opiate Prescriptions
When appropriate to concurrently prescribe a Benzodiazepine and an Opiate be sure to verbally and through written instruction educate the patient on the additional caution required with using these medications and to follow the guidelines recommended.
If a care situation arises that requires an exception to these prescribing guidelines then please notify your Medical Director and document accordingly in the patient’s record reason to extend treatment (i.e. Neoplastic Pain Management, Trauma, Extensive Orthopedic Injury, etc.)