3/12/2009 5:52:00 AM
Hospital, VWPD announce safety initiative
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Safety measures added for utilization, prescription writing
VAN WERT, Ohio - Patient Safety Awareness Week is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level. Corresponding with National Patient Safety Awareness Week, Van Wert County Hospital and the Van Wert City Police Department are pleased to announce a partnership to help curb prescription drug abuse.
Due to the serious and growing public health problems related to the abuse of prescription drugs in the Van Wert area, Van Wert County Hospital Emergency Department has teamed up with the Van Wert City Police Department to support the safe utilization and prescription writing of pain medication. Starting March 1, 2009, Van Wert County Hospital implemented more than a dozen safety measures that will prohibit the use of the Emergency Department as an avenue to obtain controlled substances habitually. Some of the safety measures include: reviewing the patient's past medical records for evidence of chronic or reoccurring benign conditions for which controlled substances is requested and prescribed, we will not provide refills when writing prescription for narcotic analgesics, and additionally narcotic analgesics prescriptions will have a limit of twenty at a time.
"We recognize that many patients arrive at the Emergency Department requiring treatment for painful medical conditions or injuries. Our goal is to quickly and effectively address pain issues while developing treatment strategies that, if necessary, will optimize pain management using both narcotic and non-narcotic medications." stated Kathy Fisher, RN, BSN, Director of Critical Care Services at Van Wert County Hospital. "While a majority of our patients use their medicine responsibly, the reality is that there are individuals who misuse prescription drugs. For our patients' safety and the safety of our providers, we have implemented numerous safety steps. These steps are not about bad drugs or bad people, but rather protecting our patients' health."
Chief of Police Joel Hammond noted, "The abuse of prescription drugs has a direct connection to criminal activity. Every day we see lives that have been lost or destroyed by prescription drugs." There are signs that your child or loved one is abusing prescription drugs, including: a loss of interest in hobbies, sports or other activities, a change in eating or sleeping habits, hostile or aggressive behavior and the disappearance of household money, prescription drugs or cough medicine. Your loved one may have red-rimmed eyes and a runny nose, but may not have a cold or history of allergies. Another indicator is the association with a new group of friends that you don't know or that cause you worry. Chief Hammond also stated, "This partnership is not just between the hospital and the police department, this is a partnership with our community. Taking prescription medication in a way that was not prescribed by a physician is illegal, dangerous and can be deadly."
Mark J. Minick, President and CEO of Van Wert County Hospital, acknowledged the importance of these new procedures. "These added safety steps are protecting our patients from direct harm. People often do not recognize the dangers and addictive nature of prescription drugs until it's too late. Our partnership with the Van Wert City Police Department and the members of our community is taking a step in the right direction."
There are things you can do to protect your family, including: communicating with your family (children and elderly) about the dangers of prescription drug use and taking medications that are not prescribed to them,
safeguarding all prescription medications in your household, ask your physician and pharmacist about the
potential for abuse your medications may have and finally, ask your pharmacist how to safely dispose of unused medications. More information about prescription drug abuse can be found on the Van Wert County Hospital Discovery website at www.vanwerthospital.org or at the Partnership for a Drug-Free America at
www.drugfree.org.
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