The efforts of Ascension Saint Thomas, part of Ascension Tennessee, to serve patients admitted for opioid and heroin use were covered by multiple Nashville-based broadcast outlets.
Despite a 66% decrease in opioid prescriptions for eight emergency departments, the hospital is seeing a rise in heroin users and overdoses.
Ali Bollinger, MD, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown, discussed alternative prescribing methods and the use of a nurse case manager to assist patients with treatment alternatives.
Dr. Bollinger told WTVF-TV that the focus will be on creating an infrastructure to provide long-term care for patients who need help with their addiction. She is working with the health department and other institutions to begin adding medically-assisted therapies and outpatient assistance for recovery.
View the story here.
