Tools for Patients
Medication Disposal Toolkit
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10 Things Every Patient in Pain Should Know
Pain Management Guide
Podcast Covers Opioid Crisis in Michigan
An episode of the MHA’s podcast, the MiCare Champion Cast, covered the opioid epidemic and new steps being taken to help prevent opioid abuse and overuse. The episode featured interviews with Paige Fults, director, advocacy, Michigan Health & Hospital Association; Kim Gaedeke, acting deputy director, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs; and Robert Nolan, DO, director of emergency medicine, Lakeland Health.
Combatting the Opioid Epidemic
Prescription drug and opioid misuse is a growing national health emergency that impacts every community in Michigan. From 1999 to 2016, the total number of overdose deaths involving any type of opioid increased more than 17 times in Michigan, from 99 to 1,689, according to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services.
Michigan hospitals are helping fight this deadly epidemic by working with lawmakers, state departments, physicians and the public to raise awareness and improve clinical processes. The MHA served on the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force, an effort formed by Gov. Rick Snyder, that included a comprehensive report and more than two dozen recommendations for changes in regulations and practices that could help address the growing problem of abuse in Michigan.
The MHA Keystone Center has a long history dedicated to decreasing opioid misuse, working with member hospitals to educate patients, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with opioid use. The Pain Management Collaborative in 2016 aimed to improve pain management, decrease opioid use and educate patients about safe pain management. It received national recognition for its progress toward those goals, which resulted in improved patient care and reduced healthcare costs.
Resources for Hospitals and Physicians
Opioid Start Talking Form
The Start Talking Form is designed to satisfy patient education and parental consent regulations regarding opioid prescriptions under Public Act 246 of 2017 which became effective June 1, 2018. Download the Word template version of the form or access it under the Prescribers tab on the MDHHS’s website.
Verify Whether Prescribers Have Registered for MAPS
Public Act 248 of 2017, which became effective on June 1, 2018, requires a licensed prescriber to register for MAPS before dispensing or prescribing a controlled substance. The state has developed a mechanism to verify if a licensed prescriber has registered for MAPS. To assist in ensuring all needed information is provided to state, the state has created a CSV template as a guide. Once the list is filled out, email a copy to LARA for verification.
Michigan Opioid Legislation Hospital Compliance Checklist
The Michigan Opioid Legislation Hospital Compliance Checklist was created to help guide MHA-member hospitals through the requirements of a package of bills signed into law in December 2017 in response to the opioid epidemic. Disclaimer: This document does not constitute legal advice. Please note that guidance from the state of Michigan is subject to change, and organizations are encouraged to contact legal counsel for legal advice.
MSMS: Reversing the Opioid Epidemic
The Michigan State Medical Society can also be used as an opioid epidemic resource.
Resources for Patients
Nonopioid Directive Form (March 28, 2019): A state law allows patients to direct health professionals to not administer opioids to them through the Nonopioid Directive form. The form can be downloaded from the Michigan.gov website, and additional resources are available to help with opioid addiction on Michigan’s Opioid Addiction Resources website.
New Medication Disposal Resources: One of the best ways individuals can fight the opioid epidemic while protecting the environment is to properly dispose of unwanted and expired medications. The resources below are ready to share with patients.
MHA Keystone Center Opioid Efforts
The MHA Keystone Center, as part of the Great Lakes Partners for Patients Hospital Improvement Innovation Network, launched a multi-state initiative in September 2018 to reduce the administration of opioid medications by emergency department clinicians. The Midwest Alternative to Opioids (ALTO) program will expand on the success of the ALTO program that was initially launched by the Colorado Hospital Association and reduced opioid use in 10 Colorado hospitals by 36 percent over six months. To date, 25 hospitals are involved across Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin.
This initiative builds on previous MHA Keystone Center work, including the MHA Keystone: Pain Management collaborative that launched in 2015 to address the growing concerns surrounding opioid overuse in the hospital setting, develop opioid prescribing guidelines and distribute resources for patients. The initiative aimed to improve pain management, decrease opioid use, and educate patients about safe pain management. It received national recognition for its progress toward those goals which resulted in improved patient care and reduced healthcare costs.
Other efforts from the MHA Keystone Center include:
- Developing patient educational materials around opioids in partnership with its Patient Family Advisory Committee and clinical experts
- Working with partner organizations under the MHA Keystone Hospital Engagement Network and the Great Lakes Partnership for Patients Hospital Improvement Innovation Network to decrease the use of opioids and instances in opioid-related adverse events in hospitals in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin.
- Participating in national opioid task forces by several MHA and MHA Keystone Center staff members.
To learn more about the MHA Keystone Center’s work to combat the opioid epidemic, contact the MHA Keystone Center.