A Change of Plans: Adjusting Treatment and Prescribing Protocols to Address the Opioid Epidemic

Nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners are at the forefront of primary care, orthopedic surgery, and oral surgery patient care. Clinicians practicing in the primary care setting are well suited to manage chronic pain as they are adept at managing chronic disease and associated comorbidities, coordinating care, and applying a biopsychosocial approach to multimodal pain management. Incorporating best practice strategies for the evaluation of pain, integration of risk assessment tools, and ongoing patient education and monitoring will optimize safe and responsible prescribing.

Additionally, the Orthopedic Trauma Association has released new acute pain guidelines that emphasize precise prescribing with multimodal treatment plans that integrate non-opioid medications, cognitive, physical, and system strategies to help patients cope with their pain.

Along with orthopedists, oral surgeons play a role in responsible prescribing of opioids. In a survey conducted by Dr. Abubaker, Chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, the average number of opioid tablets being prescribed after dental surgery was 20; this, along with the additional risk factor of young age, has proven that the implementation of new guidelines for prescribing after dental surgery procedures is key to minimizing the use of opioids while still meeting patients' pain needs.

In this free 3-part Snack, expert faculty discuss how best to manage pain in primary care, orthopedic, and dental settings, with a focus on finding a balance between compassion for patient care and patient safety.