Dr. Peter Graham, Executive Medical Director, Sparrow Physicians Health Plan visited the MBN Studio and spoke about several topics recently.

While speaking with MBN's Jeffrey Mosher Dr. Graham focused on his role in developing guidelines for usage of opioids for the Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium and, in so doing, PHP’s interest in addressing major issues in healthcare and improving Patient care.

The Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium which Dr. Graham references addresses opioid epidemic with new guidelines. The Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium is pleased to announce a new clinical practice guideline, Opioid Prescribing in Adults Excluding Palliative and End-of-Life Care.

The MQIC one-page guideline was developed from the Centers for Disease Control Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States 2016, issued in March 2016. MQIC health care plans and organizations are very concerned about the opioid epidemic in the U.S., so they’re hoping this guideline provides context around if and when to prescribe opioids.

MQIC’s guideline provides concise recommendations that focus on:
Carefully considering options such as nondrug therapy or non-opioid medications before prescribing opioids
Assessing risks including dependence
Risk of overdose or death from high-dose vs. low-dose prescribing
Consideration of naloxone, and when used, the need for an immediate visit to an emergency department
Discussion of realistic goals for pain and function
Urine drug screening when warranted
Carefully justifying (and documenting) when increasing dosage
Other important issues requiring attention

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