No pain meds in ER??

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  • Specializes in MICU, ED, Med/Surg, SNF, LTC, DNS. Has 21 years experience.

So, how does everyone feel about the New Jersey hospital that decided to pull pain meds out of their ED?

blondy2061h, MSN, RN

1 Article; 4,094 Posts

Specializes in Oncology. Has 15 years experience.

The article I read confused the heck out of me. In parts it said no opiates, in others it said they had a plan to manage opiate use. It ended with a quote saying that opiates will always have a place, but will no longer be first line in their ER. Opiates were never meant as first line pain treatment. I can't have any NSAID products without having severe asthma flares, so if I come in with a broken leg, I better get me some opiates- as should anyone. It doesn't sound like they're planning on totally eliminating opiate use in the ER.

ShaneTeam

201 Posts

Specializes in MICU, ED, Med/Surg, SNF, LTC, DNS. Has 21 years experience.

That sounds more reasonable. Fox news had reported they were pulling opiates to help curb dependancy.

ShaneTeam

201 Posts

Specializes in MICU, ED, Med/Surg, SNF, LTC, DNS. Has 21 years experience.

So, Fox News had brought on this Dr. to discuss some trends in medicine, and this was brought out as kind of by the way thing. And the guest Dr. was for them pulling opiates. He said something about how we use 80% of the opiates manufactured in the world, but by no way could we be in that much pain. Then, they had stated it was to reduce dependency and addiction of opiates. I know ED's have been trying to reduce the amount of drug seekers in the ED, but if you pull the drugs, what do you do with the patients, like the PP who actually needs them?

Karou

700 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg. Has 1 years experience.

Interesting. Our ER stopped stocking dilaudid as a way to be less appealing to drug seekers. Not sure how effective that has been. They will still do morphine and other drugs but dilaudid has to be sent from pharmacy (which it never is on time).

ShaneTeam

201 Posts

Specializes in MICU, ED, Med/Surg, SNF, LTC, DNS. Has 21 years experience.
Interesting. Our ER stopped stocking dilaudid as a way to be less appealing to drug seekers. Not sure how effective that has been. They will still do morphine and other drugs but dilaudid has to be sent from pharmacy (which it never is on time).

So, has there been many angry patients over that, do you know? I mean we DO live in the era that patient satisfaction is everything.

Karou

700 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg. Has 1 years experience.
So, has there been many angry patients over that, do you know? I mean we DO live in the era that patient satisfaction is everything.

Oh yes! They come to the unit and we hear about it non stop, even once they've gotten their dilaudid here. I'm not sure if the change will last or if it's made any difference down in the ER.

For the rare patient there truly allergic to morphine and needs the dilaudid, I feel sorry for them.

chare

3,945 Posts

So, how does everyone feel about the New Jersey hospital that decided to pull pain meds out of their ED?

Would you post the link?

ShaneTeam

201 Posts

Specializes in MICU, ED, Med/Surg, SNF, LTC, DNS. Has 21 years experience.
Would you post the link?

Actually, I had seen it on TV.

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg. Has 16 years experience.

The tide is turning on pain control. From giving everybody who asks for an opiate, an opiate, to withholding serious pain meds to those who really need it.

Just as the prior system aided the seeker, the new one hurts the patient who actually has intractable pain.

There is no middle ground.