by Michael Wong, JD (Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)
The cost of opioid-related adverse events, in terms of both human life and hospital expenses, remains at the forefront of the public eye. It has been estimated that yearly costs in the United States associated with opioid-related post-operative respiratory failure were estimated at $2 billion.
The Society of Hospital Medicine, which is the largest organization representing hospitalists and a resource for hospital medicine, recently released a comprehensive guide, “Reducing Adverse Drug Events Related to Opioids” (otherwise known as the RADEO guide).
To better understand the RADEO guide, the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety interviewed its lead author – and member of RCI’s advisory commitee – Thomas W. Frederickson MD, FACP, SFHM, MBA. Continue reading “5 Key Steps to Assessing and Identifying At-Risk Patients for Respiratory Compromise”