Editor’s Note: In this article, Michael Wong, JD (Founder/Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety) with Arielle Bernstein Pinsof, MPP, Finn Partners and Gil Bashe, Managing Partner, Finn Partners Health Practice take the position that decreasing the opioid epidemic begins in the doctor’s office and healthcare facilities.

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder/Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety) with Arielle Bernstein Pinsof, MPP, Finn Partners and Gil Bashe, Managing Partner, Finn Partners Health Practice

The tragedy of our national opioid epidemic has gripped hearts and headlines for months now with heartbreaking personal stories, images and statistics. But the truth is, not all overdose deaths are taking place on the streets — so while physicians and lawmakers race to find interventions that work on the front lines in our communities, shouldn’t we also take concrete steps to reduce opioid overdoses in the clinical setting — where they are highly preventable — where the full range of interventions are at hand?

In this article that Michael Wong coauthored with Arielle Bernstein Pinsof, MPP, Finn Partners and Gil Bashe, Managing Partner, Finn Partners Health Practice, the authors take the position that decreasing the opioid epidemic begins in the doctor’s office and healthcare facilities – “Enabling our hospital system to treat opioid overdoses requires a medical mindset. We should equip our frontline staff with the best medical guidelines, technologies and Federal and state policy support possible. Technology and training to overcome the opioid epidemic is a demonstrated path to success. It’s time to become far more innovative and take action.”

To read the article on Medium, please click here.

• Opioid Safety
• Respiratory Compromise