The National Quality Forum created a new guidebook to help providers prescribe opioids safely amid the nation's ongoing opioid epidemic, according to a March 8 release.
The guide, titled "The National Quality Partners Playbook: Opioid Stewardship," will be available for download March 12.
Here are three things to know about the NQP playbook.
1. NQF developed the playbook with input from the NQP Opioid Stewardship Action Team, which includes federal agencies, clinicians, patient partners, healthcare organizations, pharmacists, pain management experts and community-based organizations.
2. The playbook identifies fundamental elements of a sustainable opioid stewardship program, which include:
- Commitment from healthcare leadership to an opioid stewardship program
- Advanced clinical knowledge of pain management and opioid prescribing guidelines among providers
- Providers engage patients and family caregivers in discussions about the risks and benefits of all pain management strategies, including opioids
- Opioid prescription tracking
- A system of accountability for maintaining opioid stewardship
- Collaboration with community to achieve widespread opioid safety
3. The playbook also includes concrete examples and resources for implementing an opioid stewardship program.
To learn more about the playbook, click here.
To register for an NQP webinar on opioid stewardship scheduled for March 29, click here.
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