tipSC Topics

Monitoring Practices to Promote Safer Opioid Use (updated August 2023)

QUICKtipSC: SCRIPTS displays naloxone administration reported by first responders or major health care facilities under the Integrated Patient Records Section 

 

Balancing Comfort and Safety in Post-Op Pain Management (October 2022)
QUICKtipSC: Calculate tablet count needed for a patient’s opioid discharge prescription based on use the last 24 hours before discharge; no discharge opioid prescription is needed if no opioids were required.

 

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Can Change a Life (July 2021)
QUICKtipSC: A naloxone prescription and opioid overdose education can reduce overdoses – plus, it’s now required by SC law to offer for all higher risk circumstances.

 

Non-Drug Strategies for Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain (February 2021)
QUICKtipSC: Non-drug strategies can improve pain and reduce the need for medications, including opioids

 

Naloxone Can Save a Life (April 2020)
QUICKtipSC: South Carolina pharmacists can dispense naloxone to a patient or caregiver without a prescription or standing order

 

Acute Non-Cancer Pain Treatment (January 2020)
QUICKtipSC: Always consider scheduled dosing around-the-clock for acute and chronic pain treatment

 

Naloxone and Naltrexone – What’s the Difference? (June 2019)
QUICKtipSC: Most insurances now cover naloxone nasal spray.

 

Promoting Safe Medication Disposal (March 2019)
QUICKtipSC: Safe medication disposal is for ALL meds and supplements, not just opioids and other controlled substances

 

Screening for Depression and Anxiety (September 2018)
QUICKtipSC: Many payers reimburse for depression screening; coverage varies for anxiety

 

Identifying Patients with or at Risk for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) (June 2018)
QUICKtipSC: OUD is a chronic manageable disease just like hypertension and diabetes

 

Tapering Opioids and/or Benzodiazepines to Reduce Risk of Overdose (March 2018)
QUICKtipSC: Co-prescribing naloxone and opioids may save a life

 

Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC) (December 2017)
QUICKtipSC: If you don’t take opioids, you won’t have opioid-induced constipation

 

Opioids by the Numbers (September 2017)
QUICKtipSC: SCRIPTS calculates Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME) for you