Articles: opioid.
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To evaluate facility postoperative opioid prescribing patterns in comparison to published guidelines and adherence to opioid safety mandates. ⋯ Most opioid prescriptions provided within the study period aligned with recommendations from author-selected guidelines. However, a review of risk prior to opioid prescribing frequently was not performed. The number of patients utilizing less than 50% of prescribed opioids, and few refills indicate that reductions in opioids prescribed would improve safety for both patients and the surrounding community without increasing the risk for the under-treatment of postoperative pain. Improved prescribing habits and patient safety will be targeted through provider education regarding risk review documentation in opioid naïve patients.
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To determine the efficacy of a program to limit the use of the intravenous (IV) push route for opioids on the experience of pain by inpatients and on associated safety events. ⋯ For the treatment of acute pain in medical inpatients, no evidence of benefit or harm was identified in relation to an increase or decrease in the use of the IV push opioid route.