Abstract
The risk of patients receiving opioids without adequate monitoring and resulting in adverse outcomes has been noted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. More aggressive opioid analgesia often is clinically indicated, but it is not without risk. Adverse drug events due to opioids have increased with the recent adoption of pain management standards by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The implications of this are discussed and a specific safe practice recommendation is provided.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Judy L. Smetzer
Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, is Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. At the time that this review was conducted, she was a Community Care Pharmacy Practice Resident at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Perry G. Fine, MD, is Professor of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine and Associate Medical Director, Pain Management Center at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City; and National Medical Director, VistaCare, based in Scottsdale, AZ. This commentary is based on an article in Dr. Fine's VistaCare Palliative Medicine Monitor.
Jonathan R. Gavrin, MD, is the Internet editor for the Journal. He is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine; Associate Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; and Associate Director for Clinical Anesthesia Services, Harborview Medical Center.
Philip J. Wiffen, is the Regional Pharmaceutical and Prescribing Adviser, Anglia & Oxford Region of the National Health Service Executive, a member of the Oxford Regional Pain Relief Unit and Coordinating Editor of the Cochrane Collaboration Pain Palliative and Supportive Care Collaborative Review Group.
Philip J. Wiffen, BPharm, MRPharmS, MFPHM (Hon) is Regional Pharmaceutical and Prescribing Adviser, Anglia & Oxford Region of the National Health Service Executive, a member of the Pain Relief Unit, Churchill Hospital, and Coordinating Editor, Cochrane Collaboration Pain Palliative and Supportive Care Collaborative Review Group.
Howard A. Heit, practices pain medicine and addiction medicine in Fairfax, Virginia, and is Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University, Washington, DC. Dr. Heit was a member of the Liaison Committee on Pain and Addiction.
Philip J. Wiffen, is Regional Pharmaceutical and Prescribing Adviser, Anglia & Oxford Region of the National Health Service, a member of the Pain Relief Unit at Churchill Hospital and Coordinating Editor of the Cochrane Collaboration Pain Palliative and Supportive Care Collaborative Review Group.