How to implement, measure, monitor, and refine your opioid stewardship program

Even today, years after the human and financial costs of the opioid crisis became apparent, the country continues to struggle to find a way out. Hospitals and health systems are trying to do their part with opioid stewardship programs, but the challenge is complex, and having a substantive impact can be elusive.

A recent survey revealed that nearly two-thirds of health system respondents had increased their investments in opioid stewardship over the past year. Educating providers and the public, implementing alternative pain management approaches, placing limits on doses and quantities, performing drug diversion investigations, and leveraging technology to help monitor prescriptions are all priorities.

In many cases, the increased investments are buttressed by an emerging understanding of what makes an opioid stewardship program successful.