Administration and Prescription of Opioids in Emergency Departments: A Retrospective Study

Opioid overdose caused 47,600 deaths in 2017 in the United States. Emergency departments (EDs) are one source of opioids that could be abused or diverted for non-medical use. Bills to reduce opioid use in EDs have been passed in multiple states; however, Kansas does not have a bill regulating opioid administration. This study sought to identify characteristics that influence opioid administration and prescription at EDs in Wichita, Kansas.

This was a retrospective chart review analyzing patient encounters from EDs of three hospitals in Wichita, Kansas during May 2018. Information collected from charts included demographic and insurance information, as well as pain evaluation, diagnosis, disposition, provider education, and provider documentation of efforts to limit opioid abuse.

Of the 1,444 encounters included in the analysis, providers administered opioids in the ED during 17.4% of visits and prescribed opioids for outpatient treatment for 10.6% of ED patient encounters. Subjective pain rating and provider credentials were associated significantly with opioid prescription.

The prevalence of opioid administration and prescription in participating emergency departments is roughly equivalent to current best-practice data from hospitals utilizing strong opioid-reduction protocols.