November 10, 2022
Rural hospitals launch program to combat opioid abuse
Four rural hospitals in Iowa recently became the first in the state to announce participation in the Billion Pill Pledge program. Each hospital will enhance its protocols and optimize pain management to help patients minimize opioid use both before and after surgery. The CDC recently updated its guidelines for prescribing opioids for pain, which stakeholders hope will help decrease the prevalence of opioids. Additionally, a new resource from Defining Wellness outlines the signs and symptoms of drug addiction. Advocate to combat substance use disorder within your rural community and those across the country by joining NRHA and hundreds of rural health stakeholders Feb. 7-9 at NRHA’s 34th Rural Health Policy Institute.