Episode eight of the “MedChat” podcast is now available. This episode, “Use and Abuse – Opioid Addiction,” discusses the prevalence of illegal drugs and the culture. In 2017, overdose fatalities in Kentucky rose by 11%, and Jefferson County had the most overdose deaths. It is critical for physicians and providers to be aware of illegal…
Kentucky has a new resource to battle the commonwealth’s opioid epidemic. The Kentucky Poison Control Center of Norton Children’s Hospital has launched a 24/7 support hotline for health care providers, patients and first responders on opioid-related issues. The Kentucky Opioid Assistance & Resource (OAR) Hotline — (800) 854-6813 — is staffed by toxicology-certified nurses and…
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, or ERAS, is being used for heart, colorectal, abdominal, and hip and knee replacement surgeries at Norton Healthcare. It was piloted at Norton Audubon Hospital four years ago and has since been implemented at Norton Healthcare’s other adult-service hospitals. With ERAS, patients receive non-narcotic analgesics before surgery, decreasing the need for…
The causes of the opioid crisis are varied. The excessive prescribing of opioids across the nation is among the leading contributing factors. It is known that opiates are widely over-prescribed following surgery, with 80% or even more of the dispensed medications going unused after common surgical procedures. Nearly 40% of outpatient prescriptions written by surgeons…
Norton Specialty Rehabilitation Center Norton Specialty Rehabilitation Center offers physical therapy for chronic pain, including strength training, flexibility exercises and posture awareness. These active treatments can aid in reducing or eliminating the use of pain medication. “Research shows exercise and active treatment is one of the most effective therapies for chronic pain and addressing disability,”…
Episodes five and six of the “MedChat” podcast are now available. Both episodes, “Medically Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder,” a two-part topic, address the rise in overdose fatalities in Kentucky. It is critical for physicians and providers to be aware of the prevalence of illegal drugs and understand this culture — as legal prescribing…
According to the surgeon general of the United States, the number of overdose deaths from prescription and illicit opioids doubled from 21,089 in 2010 to 42,249 in 2016. This steep increase is attributed to the rapid proliferation of illicitly made fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids. These are being mixed with heroin, sold alone…
The morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) translates the dose and route of each opioid a patient has received over the previous 24 hours to a morphine equivalent using a standard conversion table. The MEDD should be used anytime an opiate is prescribed. “This formula helps in the vigilant monitoring, reduction and tapering; prescription of naloxone;…
Episode four of the “MedChat” podcast is now available. This episode, “Addressing Opioid Use During Pregnancy,” discusses the significant increase in infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in the last decade. The podcast will help providers stay current on the practice guidelines available to prevent NAS and minimize the effects when possible. Moderator James…
Norton Healthcare Providers should have a conversation with patients and parents/caregivers about safeguarding medications. All medications, including over-the-counter, herbal supplements and vitamins, should be stored out of the reach of children and locked up if possible. “It’s a simple, short conversation,” said Ashley N. Webb, Pharm.D., a board-certified clinical toxicologist and director of the Kentucky…
Research shows there are some short-term benefits of opioid therapy in certain situations, but there are no studies showing the long-term effectiveness of opioids for chronic pain. As a result, a paradigm shift is underway from opioids to nonopioid analgesics, according to James T. Jennings, M.D., medical director of adult primary care for Norton Medical…
Episode three of the “MedChat” podcast is now available. This episode of the podcast, titled “Streetwise: Drugs in Kentucky,” addresses the prevalence of illegal drugs and seeks to help physicians and providers better understand the culture around illegal drugs. As legal prescribing decreases and controls tighten, addicted patients may seek drugs from illegal sources. Moderator…