- Indiana: Indiana University (IU) on Tuesday announced the launch of a $50 million, five-year initiative to find the best clinical practices for addressing opioid misuse. IU and Eskenazi Health will work with university researchers and state public health officials to better understand the scope of the opioid misuse epidemic in the state and help providers to better treat patients with substance use disorders. Steven Ross Johnson reports for Modern Healthcare that a "key" part of the project involves looking at how providers can address substance use disorders among ED patients, who after being stabilized are often discharged within a few hours or days when the hospital cannot transfer them to a treatment center (Ross Johnson, Modern Healthcare, 10/11).
- Missouri: To raise awareness for breast cancer, Western Missouri Medical Center CFO Dean Ohmart will wear pink clothes and drive his pink convertible to work throughout October. Over the course of the month, Ohmart will donate $1 to the Johnson County Cancer Foundation for every photo of him in pink that's posted on the hospital's Facebook page. Area residents are encouraged to take photos of him when they see him in public and share them on the page (Paavola, Becker's Hospital Review, 10/11).
- Virginia: About 150 people from eight states contracted salmonella after attending a chili cook-off in Virginia on Sept. 30, health officials said. As of Wednesday, about half of those individuals had sought medical treatment, according to David Matson, director of the Virginia's Eastern Shore Health District. Over 2,000 individuals attended the 18th Annual Chincoteague Chili Chowder Cook-Off and Car Show (AP/Sacramento Bee, 10/11).
Reduce opioid misuse and abuse with our new report
Opioid misuse and abuse is one of the most pressing public health issues in the U.S., and hospitals and health systems are on the front lines. Currently, most health systems focus their opioid management efforts on select medical specialties.
This report outlines three imperatives to guide hospitals and health systems in their efforts to reduce the impact of inappropriate opioid prescribing and misuse.