ACS Leads Project to Evaluate Pain Management and Avoid Opioid Prescription Misuse after Surgery

The ACS is leading a new quality improvement project that will evaluate the most effective ways to help patients safely manage pain after surgery and reduce the risk of opioid dependence. This project is in collaboration with the Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

As part of the project, 6,000 patients, who are having non-emergency hip, knee, and shoulder replacement procedures, or certain forms of spine surgery, will receive comprehensive safe pain control educational materials developed by the ACS and collaborating organizations directly from their care team.

“This prospective study will determine the effectiveness of direct education to patients on opioid-sparing safe pain control using multimedia formats in both high and average-risk surgical musculoskeletal populations,” said Lenworth M. Jacobs, MD, MPH, FACS, Co-Chair of the ACS Patient Education Committee. “The model will determine the impact of distributing trusted education developed by the ACS direct to surgeons and patients and will result in a cost-effective meaningful method that yields the best results for surgical patients.”

In their surgery pre-approval letter, members insured under an HCSC policy will receive access to online content that they can view anytime. Additionally, select high-risk patients will be contacted by an HCSC case manager before surgery, who will use ACS resources on postoperative pain management along with other support services.

Patient engagement will be measured by determining what percentage of patients, assessed by risk, access the Safe Pain Control Program materials provided as part of their pre-approval letter and following case manager contact for high-risk patients.

Safe pain control patient education materials are also available on the ACS website at no cost. A 1-hour webinar about the collaboration is available for surgeons to review and obtain CME credit.

Learn more about the ACS Safe Pain Control After Surgery Program.