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Updated: Aug 13, 2025
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A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
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Emergency Department Alternatives to Opioids: Adapting and Implementing Proven Therapies in Practice
Sarah B Floyd1, Sam NcGarby2, Susan Cordero Romero2
1Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631, USA.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|January 21, 2023
Summary
The Emergency-Department Alternatives to Opioids (ED-ALTO) program successfully reduced opioid use in emergency departments. This initiative promoted non-narcotic pain management, improving patient outcomes and decreasing opioid dependency risks.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Pain Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Opioid use for pain management in emergency departments (EDs) carries risks of dependency and adverse patient outcomes.
- There is a critical need for effective non-opioid pain management strategies in acute care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the initial impact of the Emergency-Department Alternatives to Opioids (ED-ALTO) program on pain management practices.
- To assess changes in opioid utilization and the adoption of alternative treatments within the ED.
Main Methods:
- A pre- and post-implementation study design was employed to compare data from the year before and after ED-ALTO implementation.
- Key metrics included in-ED opioid utilization, and the use of ED-ALTO medications and procedures.
Main Results:
- Following ED-ALTO implementation, a significant decrease in ED opioid utilization was observed.
- There was a concurrent increase in the use of ED-ALTO medications and procedures, including advanced techniques like regional nerve blocks.
- Patients receiving ED-ALTO procedures showed reduced opioid use and lower dosages compared to those receiving standard care for similar conditions.
Conclusions:
- The ED-ALTO program effectively reduced opioid prescribing in emergency departments.
- Expansion of ED-ALTO programs offers a viable strategy for mitigating opioid dependency and ensuring safe, effective pain management.
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