5 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9
T
he OR team
at Lakeside
Surgery
Center in
Omaha, Neb.,
works hard to manage
patients' post-op pain with
an eye toward the addic-
tion epidemic. "Our nation
is in the midst of an opioid
crisis, and we're doing our
part to help fix it," says
Laura Rowe, MSN, RN, the center's director of nursing. It's that focus
on making surgery a little more comfortable while protecting patients
from opioid-related harm that earned Lakeside Surgery Center the OR
Excellence Award in Pain Control.
The center's home state of Nebraska was one of the first in the
nation to pass a law requiring physicians who prescribe opioids to edu-
cate patients about the potential for and the dangers of addiction and
overdose. The law also limits all opioid prescriptions to a 7-day supply.
To comply with the new legislation, Lakeside created a form that out-
lines the risks of physiological and psychological dependence on opi-
oids, outlines non-opioid treatment options and details how to safely
dispose of unused pills. Patients who'll receive opioids for post-op pain
control must sign the sheet before undergoing surgery.
PAIN CONTROL
A Big-Picture Approach to Pain Management
Lakeside Surgery Center has responded to the nationwide opioid crisis
by controlling post-op discomfort with limited use of the painkillers.
Daniel Cook | Executive Editor
• COOL CONCEPT Ice packs designed to fit around specific joints are a big
hit with hurting patients.
Laura
Rowe,
MSN,
RN