As Part Of National Effort, San Diego VA Clinic Slashes Opioid Prescription Rates
“Our providers here for the most part will not start people on opiates for chronic shoulder pain or knee pain, whereas 10 years ago, patients may have been started on that medication," said Dr. James Michelsen, chairman of the San Diego VA’s opiate pain council.
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
San Diego VA Cuts Opiate Prescribing Rate From 18% To 10%
San Diego County veterans are receiving fewer prescriptions of addictive painkillers than five years ago — as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs tries to reduce reliance on the opioid drugs blamed for the nation’s current overdose epidemic. The VA on Thursday released the prescription rate of opioid-based drugs at all of its pharmacies. The federal agency becomes the only hospital system in the country to post this information, according to VA Secretary David Shulkin. (Steele, 1/11)