Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Opioid and Drug Epidemic Need Health Management Too
As many people are well aware, the opioid and drug epidemic is increasing at alarming rates. New Hampshire faces many problems with this epidemic as there are many drug abusers in the state. Managing health care isn't always just in a hospital setting. It is important to remember that we need to look elsewhere in the community for good health management tactics as well. These management skills used by CEO's and health care organizations should be seen by doctors, pharmacy's, and public and state health facilities as well. Keeping an eye on positive health initiatives and enforcement throughout the community is not always easy but it is critical. Many people do not support clean needle exchanges and needle safe containers around the community but we need to remember these are the programs getting the dirty needles off of the streets and out from under our feet. We need to offer the help we can give to those who need it. We need to encourage and support doctors to give smaller prescription doses after surgeries and injuries. We need to encourage people to expose of extra pills appropriately rather than sell them on the streets. We need to offer as much help as we can to improve the drug crisis. Many people are sick and are willing to get help if it is there. Manchester turned a local fire station into a safe house for drug addicts to come in and get clean. More addicts retrieved the help offered than Manchester had expected. Superior and quality management skills are needed not only for the good but also for the bad. With determined individuals who show these phenomenal health management skills to the community can be the difference. These are the people who can improve the health of the community and the quality of life for everyone around them. The population will continue to see this opioid epidemic and a drug crisis. This is where health management is needed more than ever.
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Two thoughts:
ReplyDelete1. what might be considered as the primary reason for the existence of the epidemic? In other words, why do folks turn to these drugs (and get addicted in the process) in the first place? Is it inappropriate prescribing, is it addicts' inability to face the stresses of life in general, is it an underlying disease process which the addict can't control (as is sometimes argued as the basis for alcoholism). Science has yet to conclusively pinpoint the primary cause. Figuring out the primary cause through well-conducted research would go a long way to solving the problem.
2. I personally think patient satisfaction surveys play into this overall scenario. My wife's own orthopaedic surgeon told me he's always being pressured and badgered by patients for pain prescriptions. If he doesn't prescribe them, his patient satisfaction survey scores fall, his bonus gets cut, etc etc. I know this is also a big issue with Emergency Department physicians at hospitals who routinely send out patient satisfaction surveys.
You point out good management ideas in your post for handling patients currently caught in the grasp of this terrible problem. In addition to managing present-day addicts effectively and with compassion, we need to figure out productive and reasonable ways to reduce the demand side of the equation.
Hi Kayli,
ReplyDeleteVery thoughtful post. Along these lines, we need to make sure more physicians are trained on helping with opioid addiction, as there are a LOT of MDs who can prescribe pain killers, but much, much fewer can actually help with treating the addiction.
Specifically in Pediatrics, the numbers are astounding. There is an extremely short supply of pediatric MDs who are trained in treating opioid addition in young adults.