A $1 million-a-year initiative has been launched to provide physicians and patients education on how to prescribe and use opioids and other pain treatments in a safe manner, according to an American Medical News report.
The Pain Safety & Access for Everyone initiative, or PainSAFE, was launched by an advocacy group representing patients with pain. The initiative comes at a time when deaths and overdoses related to opioid abuse are on a rapid incline. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal opioid overdoses tripled to approximately 14,000 deaths from 1999-2006. The CDC also reported more than 305,000 emergency department visits in 2008 were related to opioids, which is double the 2004 estimate.
The Pain Safety & Access for Everyone website offers educational material for patients, physicians and other healthcare providers. Educational content includes modules on opioid therapy and implantable pain therapies. Additional information on complementary and alternative therapies as well as over-the-counter medications is forthcoming.
Read the American Medical News report about PainSAFE.
Read other coverage about quality and infection control:
- AORN Urges Healthcare Providers to Examine Connection Between Surgical Attire and Infections
- Healthcare Leaders Outline Framework for Fighting Infections
The Pain Safety & Access for Everyone initiative, or PainSAFE, was launched by an advocacy group representing patients with pain. The initiative comes at a time when deaths and overdoses related to opioid abuse are on a rapid incline. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal opioid overdoses tripled to approximately 14,000 deaths from 1999-2006. The CDC also reported more than 305,000 emergency department visits in 2008 were related to opioids, which is double the 2004 estimate.
The Pain Safety & Access for Everyone website offers educational material for patients, physicians and other healthcare providers. Educational content includes modules on opioid therapy and implantable pain therapies. Additional information on complementary and alternative therapies as well as over-the-counter medications is forthcoming.
Read the American Medical News report about PainSAFE.
Read other coverage about quality and infection control:
- AORN Urges Healthcare Providers to Examine Connection Between Surgical Attire and Infections
- Healthcare Leaders Outline Framework for Fighting Infections
