ERs Face the Problem of Multiple Drugs in Overdose Patients

1. ERs Face the Problem of Multiple Drugs in Overdose Patients ER visits for opioid overdoses is rising in the U.S. Accurate ER reports from medical transcription services and proactive action can help minimize risks. Medical Transcription Services United States www.medicaltranscriptionservicecompany.com 918-221-7809

2. The emergency room is a hub of hectic activity with patients coming in with a number of serious illnesses or injuries that require immediate treatment. Preparing emergency room transcription notes and reports such as trauma reports, consultations, triage reports and so on is a huge challenge, which makes ER transcription service provided by a medical transcription company a great documentation solution for ER physicians. ER visits for opioid overdoses rose 30% in all parts of the United States from July 2016 through September 2017. Opioid use disorder (OUD) need to be treated in a timely manner with medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to prevent repeat overdoses. The data generated in the ER provides an early warning system for health departments to identify any increase in opioid overdoses more quickly. This will help coordinate response efforts among emergency departments, health departments, community-based organizations, mental health and treatment providers, and law enforcement that is vital to prevent opioid overdose and death. Emergency rooms are facing a serious issue now with patients being diagnosed with far more types of drugs in their systems than the standard screening test used by hospitals can detect, a recent study warns. Two third of patients who were admitted to two University of Maryland Medical System emergency rooms in 2016 were found to have multiple drugs in their system. In case of overdose, the emergency room conducts a basic urine test. This is a very quick and affordable test but it detects fewer than a dozen drugs including opioids. It cannot identify drugs like fentanyl and oxycodone. Both of these drugs have contributed to record overdoses across the country. Urine samples from the Midtown Campus in Baltimore and the Prince George’s Hospital Centre in Cheverly were sent to an outside lab for more detailed urine tests and more drugs were detected in patients. It is important for treating physicians to know what drugs the patient has taken to provide better and quick treatment and follow-up treatment like rehabilitation. Urine samples were collected from 106 patients from Prince George’s and 69 from Midtown campus. Patients in Baltimore tested positive for marijuana and fentanyl which is a very powerful synthetic often added to heroin without users knowing. In Prince George’s County the most detected drug was the hallucinogenic drug PCP. According to Eric Wish, director of the Centre of Substance Abuse, the results show the complexities in the current epidemic. Sometimes drug dealers mix drugs without the knowledge of the users. Patients don’t know what they are taking and end up misinforming their doctors. In fact, dangerous synthetic cannabinoids such as Spice or K2 have contributed to a spike in accidental drug overdoses. And, the urine tests fail to www.medicaltranscriptionservicecompany.com 918-221-7809

3. detect these drugs. This shows the importance of constantly updating urine tests to make them more effective. Hospitals should have a more detailed drug testing facility. Today drugs are available easily and those who use these have multiple dangerous drugs in their system. At present, drug overdose treatment is focused on opioids. However, people are using far more than opioids and better treatment techniques are necessary to address this growing problem. Dr. Zachary D.W. Dezman, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine and an attending physician in the ER at Midtown want to see more fentanyl testing done in Baltimore as it is contributing to the problem. A detailed urine test may be expensive. Law makers and public health officials should put more effort into eradicating this serious health concern and save valuable human lives. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) clearly outlines what can be done to minimize the opioid crisis. Health Departments can do the following: • Alert communities to rapid increases in overdoses seen in EDs for an informed and timely response. • Increase naloxone distribution (an overdose-reversing drug) to first responders, family and friends, and other community members in affected areas in keeping with policies. • Increase availability of and access to treatment services, including mental health services and MAT for OUD. • Support programs that minimize harms which can occur when injecting opioids, including those offering screening for HIV and hepatitis B and C, in combination with referral to treatment. Emergency departments can take the following steps: • Develop post-opioid overdose protocols that could include Offering overdose prevention education, naloxone, and related training for patients, o family members, and friends. Linking patients to treatment and services in the community as needed. o Starting medication assisted treatment in the emergency department o Healthcare providers can contribute by: • Prescribing opioids only when benefits are likely to outweigh risks. • Determining a patient’s prescription drug history and level of risk by accessing data from their state PDMP www.medicaltranscriptionservicecompany.com 918-221-7809

4. • Identify mental health, social services, and treatment options to provide appropriate care for patients who have OUD. Documentation is very important when it comes to opioid and other drug overdose treatment and in this regard, reliable medical transcription services will prove valuable to healthcare providers. www.medicaltranscriptionservicecompany.com 918-221-7809