Postoperative Opioid Prescribing Guidelines

Press release

PHILADELPHIA — This morning, Mayor Jim Kenney and Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, flanked by surgeons from three of the major health systems in Philadelphia, announced the release of new, voluntary guidelines for surgeons to use when deciding if, and how many, opioids will be prescribed after a successful surgery. These guidelines are the first in the country that were built using evidence of actual use. 

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/city-releases-voluntary-guidelines-for-postoperative-opioid-prescribing-to-combat-opioid-crisis

Philadelphia Tribune

Philadelphia is trying to get doctors to prescribe fewer opioids to patients recovering from surgery through voluntary guidelines published for surgeons.

If the guidelines are followed, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said, far fewer opioid pills will be prescribed in the city.

http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/philadelphia-asks-doctors-to-prescribe-non-opioids-first/article_63843f8a-3023-523b-ac11-e13b36ad794d.html

By Tom MacDonald

KYW 1

The Philadelphia Health Department has taken the unusual step of developing opioid prescription guidelines for surgeons in the city, in another effort to reign in the addiction epidemic. The guidelines are based on research showing opioids may be completely unnecessary after minor surgery.

Philadelphia is the first city to take on the task. Health Commissioner Tom Farley says other efforts to reduce opioid prescriptions have paid off, but still a survey showed they’re at historically high levels.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/philly-becomes-first-city-issue-opioid-prescription-guidelines

By Pat Loeb

KYW 2

The Philadelphia Health Department has taken the unusual step of developing opioid prescription guidelines for surgeons in the city, in another effort to reign in the addiction epidemic. KYW Newsradio’s City Hall bureau chief Pat Loeb reports the guidelines are based on research showing opioids may be completely unnecessary after minor surgery.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/media/audio-channel/philadelphia-health-department-develops-opioid-prescription-guidelines-city

By Pat Loeb

CBSPhilly

Doctors want to keep patients out of pain following surgery, but research is showing opioids aren’t always the best option, they’re overprescribed, and too many pills end up in the wrong hands.

“With these guidelines, patients will not be suffering unnecessarily with pain,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley.

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2018/12/19/philadelphia-becomes-first-city-in-us-to-issue-guidelines-to-doctors-who-prescribe-opioids-after-surgery/

By Stephanie Stahl

WHYY

“If all the surgeons in Philadelphia use these guidelines, this will reduce the use of opioids after surgery by more than 80 percent,” he said.

The guidelines call for using non-opioid pain treatments instead, which Farley says studies show are better for pain management.

https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-asks-doctors-to-prescribe-non-opioids-first/

By Tom MacDonald