THE Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has welcomed the release of the Opioid Analgesic Stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard.
SHPA CEO, Kristin Michaels, said the new standard, released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, would help pharmacists to improve quality use of medicines.
"The release of these standards will further empower hospital pharmacists to reduce the inappropriate supply and dispensing of opioids, and to provide opioid medicine de-escalation and tapering plans at the point of discharge, so that primary healthcare providers and patients are supported to significantly reduce the potential for developing long-term misuse," she said.
Michaels added that trials of hospital pharmacist-led opioid stewardship programs in Victorian and Queensland had shown the reduced opioid use.
"Such services need to be funded by all hospitals in partnership between State, Territory and Commonwealth jurisdictions to ensure these clinical standards can be met," she said.
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