- A springboard for Value-Based Procedural Care Delivery
- Surgery puts patients at risk for opioid dependency and OUD
- Employers are seeking facilities that can provide enhanced surgical care with minimal to no opioid exposure.
We know now that the opioid crisis begins with a doctor’s prescription.
Surgery is one life event that exposes individuals to opioids. The other two more common events are dental extractions/surgery and injuries (like a back injury).
Each day approximately 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose and 5400 Americans develop a dependency on opioids or Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
Surgery puts patients at risk for opioid dependency and OUD.
For individuals who are not already taking opioids, the risk of opioid dependency or OUD after surgery is approximately 9-13%.
Just one opioid prescription after a surgery adds thousands of dollars to the cost of care ($3700-$7700 additional costs that year depending on carrier).
Mitigating the risk of OUD by providing opioid free or opioid sparing surgery is providing better value (and a better outcome) at the time of surgery.
Employers are seeking out facilities that can provide this enhanced surgical care with minimal opioid exposure.
75% of employers report that opioid use has impacted their workplace and they are getting serious about addressing this problem head-on.
For example, large employer groups and trade associations have created legislation that allows their workers to refuse opioids when receiving care. This Non-Opioid Directive is currently law in 7 states and has recently been introduced at the Federal Level.
Are you ready to provide opioid free/opioid sparing care?
We’re here to help. Contact us if you’d like to learn more.