Pharmacist-initiated naloxone discharge prescribing for high-risk hospitalized internal medicine patients

Michaela Elise Wermers; Ashley Weisensel Sturm; Sarah Aileen Mancini; Breann Mary Hogan

doi:10.5055/jom.0887

Authors

Michaela Elise Wermers, PharmD https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8505-0214
Ashley Weisensel Sturm, PharmD
Sarah Aileen Mancini, PharmD
Breann Mary Hogan, PharmD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.0887

Keywords:

naloxone, overdose, pharmacist, opioids

Abstract

Pharmacists nationwide may play a critical role in expanding naloxone access after several states enacted legislation to allow pharmacist prescribing of opioid antagonists. This created a unique opportunity for inpatient pharmacists to participate in combating the opioid epidemic by prescribing naloxone at hospital discharge. A multifaceted intervention was developed to identify and educate hospitalized patients eligible for naloxone prescribing. After implementation, 22 of 40 eligible patients (55 percent) were prescribed naloxone by inpatient pharmacists during the 3-month study period. With this pharmacist-driven intervention, there was an 848 percent increase in the number of hospitalized chronic opioid patients with naloxone prescriptions on discharge.

Author Biographies

Michaela Elise Wermers, PharmD

Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, Mayo Clinic St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota

Ashley Weisensel Sturm, PharmD

Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, Mayo Clinic St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota

Sarah Aileen Mancini, PharmD

Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, Mayo Clinic St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota

Breann Mary Hogan, PharmD

Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, Mayo Clinic St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota

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