Hospitals and Fentanyl: A Rapidly Changing Landscape

Fentanyl is killing thousands of Washingtonians each year. The opioid epidemic has created many unique challenges for hospitals and the increase in fentanyl use makes those challenges even more complex. Healthcare organizations must adapt clinical safety and best practices to not only support clinical care teams with the education, tools, and strategies to support patient-centric care models for patients who use fentanyl but these solutions must be accessible, equitable, and sustainable so hospitals can continue to serve their communities as trusted healthcare leaders.

Join colleagues across the state for education on and focused discussion of patient-centered interventions and risk-reducing strategies to minimize harm related to fentanyl and opioid use disorder. “Hospitals and Fentanyl: A Rapidly Changing Landscape,” on Tuesday, November 7th, 12-1:30pm, will feature a presentation from Dr. Thomas Miller, Medical Director, Safety and Quality, at Overlake Medical Center, as well as a panel discussion with providers across the state who have successfully implemented strategies and programs for effective care of patients with substance use disorders. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe the impact of fentanyl on the opioid epidemic.
• Identify three areas where the hospital can actively address this crisis: addiction prevention through better prescribing practices, overdose prevention through the dispensing of naloxone, and treating patients with medications for opioid use disorders.
• Describe equitable best practices for caring for patients who use drugs, such as addressing individual and institutional stigma, implementing universal screening practices, and providing staff education on addiction.
• List successful practices for prescribing medications for opioid use disorders by hearing from colleagues around the state who are successfully doing so.
• Determine appropriate next steps to expand hospital activities for serving patients with substance use disorders.

This event is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP17702 for 1.5 Contact Hours and is only open to WSHA members. Hospital staff should use their hospital email to register for this event.