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Hospitals across the country are reevaluating their approach to prescribing as doctors seek to stem the flow of opioids into communities. Doctors in °µĶųTV Langoneās have been leading an institution-wide effort to rethink the role of opioids in patient care, reducing and in some cases eliminating the use of opioids for postoperative pain control.
āSometimes you do needs opioids,ā says Charla F. Fischer, MD, associate professor in the department and surgeon at °µĶųTV Langoneās Spine Center, ābut weāre looking at alternative methods. In my opinion, I think thatās a better, more holistic way of treating pain than just giving someone opioids.ā
Although °µĶųTV Langone is still collecting data about the impact the new protocols are having, Kirk A. Campbell, MD, assistant professor in the department, says the change has been clear. āWeāre being better stewards of the narcotics weāre prescribing,ā he says.
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