Category: Opioid Safety

Lessons Learned from a Survey Assessing Nurses’ Awareness and Perceptions of Opioids and the Impact of Postsurgical Pain Management Medication Interventions

[Editor’s note: Amy Smalarz led the survey research. Lynn Razzano assisted with the article writing, but was not involved with the design, conduct, or analysis of the survey.]

By Amy Smalarz PhD, MHA (President and Co-Founder, Strategic Market Insight) and Lynn Razzano RN, MSN, ONCC (Clinical Nurse Consultant, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Postsurgical pain management with opioids is tricky business. Not only do you have to think about which medication delivery interventions to use (PCA IV opioids, continuous wound infiltration, continuous epidural or femoral nerve block to name a few), but you must consider the type and amount of medication, then responsibly monitor the patient effectively. We know all too well about the dangers and challenges of ensuring the effectiveness of the medication as well as the safety of the patients; for example, The Joint Commission issued Sentinel Event Alert #49 and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices recently issued yet another Medication Safety Alert. Continue reading “Lessons Learned from a Survey Assessing Nurses’ Awareness and Perceptions of Opioids and the Impact of Postsurgical Pain Management Medication Interventions” →

Physician-Patient Alliance Encouraged by First Meeting of National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids

The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health and Safety described the inaugural meeting of the National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids as a major step forward in the path to eliminate respiratory comprise, the second-most frequently occurring preventable patient safety issue in the United States.

Continue reading “Physician-Patient Alliance Encouraged by First Meeting of National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids” →

Patient Stories Shared at First Meeting of National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids

The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health and Safety today released the patient stories it shared at the inaugural meeting of the National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids.

“We hope that the adverse events and deaths of patients who have suffered opioid-induced respiratory compromise may serve as inspiration to encourage the adoption of continuous electronic monitoring of all patients receiving opioids,” said Physician-Patient Alliance Executive Director and Founder Michael Wong, JD. Continue reading “Patient Stories Shared at First Meeting of National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids” →

Two Incorrect Beliefs About Pain Pumps That May Harm Patients

By Lynn Razzano RN, MSN, ONCC (Clinical Nurse Consultant)

A recent article by Gregory Hickman, MD. in Outpatient Surgery entitled: “Pump Up Your Pain Pump Knowledge: How much do you know about the potential for post-op complications?” is an eye-opener to reinforce our need to learn what we need to know in order to prevent postoperative complications. Continue reading “Two Incorrect Beliefs About Pain Pumps That May Harm Patients” →

Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Nov 14, 2014)

We admit, this week’s must reads is not the usual synopsis of articles and research … but we think our involvement in this week’s National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids meeting will prove to have great impact on patient safety, so we just have to talk about it! Continue reading “Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Nov 14, 2014)” →

Campaign to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients Receiving Opioids

The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety enthusiastically applauds the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Foundation’s newly launched campaign to promote continuous monitoring of all patients receiving opioid analgesics to manage their pain. Continue reading “Campaign to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients Receiving Opioids” →

8 Key Steps for Ensuring Opioid Safety in Pregnant Patients: No Need to Whisper, Time to Shout Out the Need

By Lynn Razzano RN, MSN, ONCC (Clinical Nurse Consultant, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Opioid management for pregnant patients requires particular care and caution. After all, there really are two lives to think about, consider and factor in – that of the mother and her baby!

With these types of concerns in mind, on Oct. 23-Oct. 24, 2014, over 200 obstetrics and gynecology nurses attended the Massachusetts chapter conference of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). Continue reading “8 Key Steps for Ensuring Opioid Safety in Pregnant Patients: No Need to Whisper, Time to Shout Out the Need” →

Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Oct 31, 2014)

Good news and bad news.

Yes, there have been other things going on in healthcare other than Ebola-mania … thanks @sacbee_news for this illustration putting Ebola in perspective:

ebola comic

The Good News

First, we’ll start with the good news, because most people love a celebration. Continue reading “Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Oct 31, 2014)” →