American Pain Society - Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

Though much of the attention to end the opioid epidemic is centered on the improper use of opioids in the community (misuse, diversion, etc), the truth is that opioid harm exists across a continuum of care. The safe use of opioids begins with the safe use of opioid analgesics in the hospital setting and the prescription of opioids upon discharge of the patient from a healthcare facility. We must first and foremost make sure that opioids provided to patients are done so in a safe manner both during administration and upon discharge.

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder and Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Opioid-related deaths are a leading national and community concern. Unfortunately, reports of opioid-related deaths occur with astonishing regularity in our daily news feeds.

Though much of the attention on opioid-related harm is centered on the improper use of opioids in the community (misuse, diversion, etc), the truth is that opioid harm exists across a continuum of care. The safe use of opioids begins with the safe use of opioid analgesics in the hospital setting and the prescription of opioids upon discharge of the patient from a healthcare facility. We must first and foremost make sure that opioids provided to patients are done so in a safe manner both during administration and upon discharge. Continue reading “We Need to Focus on Patient Safety to Battle the Opioid Epidemic: 5 Key Steps to a More Balanced Approach” →

By the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS)

The American Pain Society (APS) recently released Clinical Practice Guideline for Post-Surgical Pain Management sets forth recommendations from an interdisciplinary expert panel. The APS commissioned the panel which received input from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and the guideline was approved by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management (ASRA).

Roger Chou, MD, lead author and head of the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center, says that the guideline targets at all clinicians involved with post-surgical pain:

The intent of the guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations for better management of postoperative pain, and the target audience is all clinicians who manage pain resulting from surgery,

Here are two key takeaways from the 32 recommendations: Continue reading “Two Key TakeAways from New American Pain Society Guideline for Post-Surgical Pain Management” →