Opioid stewardship tool enhances safety for patients
To support patient safety, a new tool, Pharmaceutical Automated Reporting (PAR), collects data on all in-patient opioid prescriptions based on patient information and uses nine risk factors to help identify if patients are at risk for opioid-related complications. Patients are de-identified to preserve patient privacy.
In a 2023 pilot, the PAR tool found at least one opioid risk factor in 98.9 per cent of patients who were prescribed opioids, and multiple risk factors in 62.4 per cent. This data helped the Opioid Stewardship Program promote improved prescribing practices. The tool will also be used to track intervention impact, guide policy changes, help with decision-making, and assess quality of care.
“The PAR tool helps our clinical team to proactively identify patients at high risk for opioid-related issues,” said Dr. Casey Phillips, PharmD, Opioid Stewardship Program Pharmacist. “This helps with timely access to specialized care, improving the patient journey while in the hospital.”
Collaborative work is still ongoing to expand the use of the PAR tool across the province and improve patient safety. This project connects directly to the SHA Roadmap and is a strong example of how the SHA’s CARES values of compassion, accountability, respect, equity and safety. is the foundation of innovation in our health-care system.
