Mayo Clinic Key In To Quality

Opioid Prescribing Practices - Reducing the Risks and Saving Lives

Episode Summary

Host:     Timothy Morgenthaler, MD  @DrTimMorg Guests:  Helena Gazelka M.D., Consultant, Anesthesia-Pain Clinic, Mayo Clinic               Benjamin Lai, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., Consultant, Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic  @BenjaminLaiMD Drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Many of the overdoses occur in people who were originally prescribed medications such as pain medications for acceptable clinical indications. A number of studies indicate that of those who began abusing opioids, a large number reported that their first opioid was from a prescription. Opioid abuse and addiction has become a crisis in the US and the need for standardized practices for prescribing is more important now than ever to avoid the terrible consequences of addiction. This podcast will share what Mayo Clinic is doing to reduce risks to patients, support physicians and standardize prescribing practices through an Opioid Stewardship program. Find out more about Mayo Clinic’s Quality program at https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/quality/. Connect with us on Twitter or Facebook using #mayokeyintoquality or at: https://www.facebook.com/MayoClinic https://twitter.com/MayoClinic  

Episode Notes

Host:     Timothy Morgenthaler, MD  @DrTimMorg

Guests:  Helena Gazelka M.D., Consultant, Anesthesia-Pain Clinic, Mayo Clinic

              Benjamin Lai, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., Consultant, Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic  @BenjaminLaiMD

Drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Many of the overdoses occur in people who were originally prescribed medications such as pain medications for acceptable clinical indications. A number of studies indicate that of those who began abusing opioids, a large number reported that their first opioid was from a prescription. Opioid abuse and addiction has become a crisis in the US and the need for standardized practices for prescribing is more important now than ever to avoid the terrible consequences of addiction. This podcast will share what Mayo Clinic is doing to reduce risks to patients, support physicians and standardize prescribing practices through an Opioid Stewardship program.

Find out more about Mayo Clinic’s Quality program at https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/quality/.

Connect with us on Twitter or Facebook using #mayokeyintoquality or at:

https://www.facebook.com/MayoClinic

https://twitter.com/MayoClinic