Publications & Resources

How Physicians Can Help Combat the Opioid Crisis

Responsibly prescribing medications, identifying patients with opioid use disorders, initiating conversations and developing treatment plans may help physicians handle drug-seeking patients while mitigating risk.

Proper Use of Non-Opioid Alternatives Can Effectively Manage Post-Surgical Pain

New research indicates there are not significant differences in clinical outcomes or overall experiences between post-surgical patients who receive narcotics and those treated with over-the-counter NSAIDs.

Experts Caution Against Opioid Issuance for Long-COVID

A troubling percentage of long-COVID patients are using opioids to address the scope of symptoms that can cripple one’s health for months after a diagnosis.

Individualized Opioid Interventions Can Reduce Use After Surgery

Experts say patient-centric opioid intervention before discharge from the hospital can cut overall opioid intake, while still ensuring a patient is satisfied and their pain is properly managed.

Risk Management Checklists: Opioid Management

MLMIC encourages policyholders to review these important Risk Management Checklists on opioid management, including guidance on managing patients with chronic pain and managing drug seeking patients.

FDA Warns About Illicit Online Opioid Retailers

The FDA cautions that a number of websites are illegally selling unauthorized opioids that may be counterfeit, contaminated, expired or otherwise unsafe.

How to Prevent Drug Diversion in Your Organization

Drug diversion creates threats to patient safety, puts employee health and safety at risk and potentially damages the organization’s reputation and financial well-being.

How to Reduce Risk of Prescribing Errors

Characterizing prescription errors as “relatively common but preventable,” The Pharmaceutical Journal has published recommendations for preventing the mistakes, which can represent threats to patient safety.

A Reminder from NYSDOH About Opioid Treatment Plan Requirement

NYS Public Health Law requires that a written treatment plan be placed in the patient’s medical record when a practitioner prescribes opioids for pain management for longer than three months or past the time of normal tissue healing.

Will Hospitals Be Held Accountable if Patients Become Addicted to Opioids?

NPR and Fierce Healthcare recently raised the question, will hospitals be held accountable if patients become addicted to opioids? According to the articles, overprescription of opioids contributes to the current crisis, and many physicians don’t understand how quickly addiction can happen.