Optimum opioid usage is critical in improving health outcome levels in both adults and children. The largest pediatric hospital in the USA, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital reduced the number of opioid dosages for children being discharged from the hospital and going home.
How did the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Decrease Opioid Dosages?
The pediatric hospital was able to effectively decrease average doses per prescription by 62%. They achieved this by:
- Accumulating data from Epic EMR Software and surveys on existing prescribing and education practices.
- Deploying electronic prescribing of controlled substances.
- Educating providers, patients, and their families on the importance of opioid usage and safety.
By 2022, Nationwide Children’s Hospital was successful in dropping the average number of doses per prescription from 26.8 to 10.12.
Opioid Poisoning in Children
Almost 9,000 children died between 1999 to 2016 because of illicit opioid poisoning in the US. Fentanyl deaths in young children due to accidental exposure to opioids have been on the rise in recent years. In the United States, opioid poisoning in children is a major concern. Opioids are effective pain relievers that can be highly addictive and lethal, especially in cases of accidental overdose. Because of their smaller size and lower tolerance levels, children are especially vulnerable to opioid toxicity.
Reasons for Opioid Poisoning in Children
Several factors contribute to the risk of pediatric opioid poisoning:
- Accidental exposure to the medication.
- Inappropriate prescribing by providers can cause adverse effects.
- Teenagers can intentionally misuse opioids.
- If parents or caregivers use opioids illicitly.
Educating Patients and Their Families on Opioid Usage
The Nationwide Children’s Hospital rolled out initiatives that focused on raising awareness among parents, and caregivers about the prevention and risks of opioid poisoning in children. To improve opioid education the pediatric hospital implemented an opioid task force. The task force was responsible for adding a question to the prescriber’s ordering workflow. Once this change was made by the task force, prescribers documented that they provided opioid education to patients.
e-Prescribing for controlled substances
The hospital implemented e-prescribing of controlled substances. Aiming to enhance patient safety, reduce manual prescription errors, and combat the opioid crisis in children by reducing the risk of forged paper prescriptions.
Death due to opioid poisoning in children is a grave tragedy. It is good to know that health systems, caregivers, and the government are playing a proactive role to reduce child mortality rates that arise from over dosage of drugs.
