Battling The Opioid Crisis, One Surgery At A Time
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have seen a spike in popularity in recent years from patients looking for convenient and affordable care. ASCs provide patients with effective care at outpatient facilities, often focused on minimally invasive surgeries. A specialized team of physicians, nurses, and anesthesiologists ensure that a patient receives analgesic relief throughout the surgery while reducing the risk of addiction to pain medications.
Education
The opioid epidemic has become a critical issue that has plagued patients looking to minimize postoperative pain. ASCs are known for superior patient satisfaction due to the level of personalized care provided by nurses and surgeons. Healthcare staff ensures patients that opioid use will be limited before, during, and after the surgery. Educating patients about the program goals and the value of reducing opioid use empowers patients to make the right decisions.
Opioid alternatives
ASCs offer a multi-modal pain management plan that focuses on reducing or eliminating opioid use. Healthcare staff may provide minimally invasive surgery patients with non-opioid analgesics, as well as a range of nerve blocks and anesthesia to reduce pain sensitivity. A variety of non-narcotic painkillers can work to avoid the side effects and risks of opioids such as nausea, drowsiness, or constipation.
Staff care
ASCs’ streamlined and on-call team offers personalized care for all patients. For example, some healthcare facilities may not be able to perform numerous nerve blocks in a single day due to a lack of trained staff, scarce medications, or other cost-prohibitive reasons. ASCs hire dedicated people to provide the appropriate non-opioid treatment needed at the specific surgery time to reduce drug abuse and avoid delays.
Postoperative care
A dedicated and knowledgeable staff employs alternative and adjunct therapies to reduce the need for opioids after minimally-invasive surgery. Everything from physical therapy to meditation techniques are used to improve the surgery outcome. A small staff ensures patients receive careful tracking of infections and are frequently surveyed about post-op pain.
ASCs are determined to reduce opioid use
Physicians and anesthesiologists working at ASCs have a varied repertoire of treatment options that can manage postoperative pain without the side effects of opioids. Furthermore, new studies are showing that opioids could actually increase a patient’s sensitivity to pain. ASCs are at the forefront of education and treatment protocols to reduce the destructive nature of opioid abuse and addiction. For more information about decreasing opioid use, speak with a healthcare provider.
