From the AHAP Blog: Joint Commission issues sentinel event alert on use of opioids
The Joint Commission this week released its latest Sentinel Event Alert, this time targeting the safe use of opioids in the hospital setting. Opioids such as morphine, methadone, and oxycodone, the alert states, are among the drugs most often associated with adverse drug events, including incidents related to dizziness, nausea, and falls.
The report offers recommendations for safe practice, education and training for practitioners in the administration and use of opioids, and tools for screening for risks. The Sentinel Event Alert includes input from institutions across the country, including the Cancer Pain Program at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, the Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center and the University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona.
To access the complete alert for hospital and critical access hospital settings, visit The Joint Commission’s website.