Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: Opioid overdose remains a major public health concern in the US and among the veteran population. Naloxone is an effective medication for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. Despite this, there is a significant need to ensure adequate patient access and training on proper use of naloxone. The aim of this project is to increase patient-driven requests of naloxone rescue kits through direct-to-patient education for VA Puget Sound Veterans. It involves educating patients on factors that increase the risk of respiratory depression, proper use of a Naloxone kit, identification of an overdose and strategies to limit the clinical consequences.
Methods: This project will utilize a two-pronged approach; first is direct patient education utilizing methods such as educational handouts, posters, public service announcements on television screens at VA Puget Sound, group sessions for patients, informational letters and direct telephone calls to patients. Second, outreach phone calls to identified veterans by a pharmacist. Pharmacists finishing orders for opioid prescriptions will review the Veteran’s medication list to determine if a naloxone rescue kit has been dispensed to the patient in the past year. Patients without a naloxone kit will be contacted and assessed for risk of opioid overdose. The patients will also be evaluated for an understanding of who can benefit from a naloxone kit and knowledge about the use and administration of naloxone. A naloxone kit will be ordered and mailed to these patients as needed.
Results: N/A
Conclusion: N/A
Oluwaseyi Adetunji
– Resident Pharmacist, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Renton, WA145 Views