South Bend (Ind.) Orthopedics is implementing protocols to limit the amount of opioids physicians can prescribe to patients who undergo surgery, NBC affiliate WNDU reported April 22.
Hip and knee surgeon Tyler McGregor, DO, pitched the idea to the practice's board of directors after meeting with representatives of the 525 Foundation, a nonprofit that raises awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and misuse. The board approved.
"We don’t want to sacrifice any quality of care; we want to make sure people are well taken care of, but we also want to make sure that the unused pills that historically were associated with painful surgeries are not floating around out there," Deepak Reddy, MD, a spine surgeon at the 25-plus physician practice, told WNDU.
South Bend Orthopedics and the 525 Foundation hope to expand the initiative to other providers in the community.