2018 Rural Health Champion Award Submissions

Individual

Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital - Rural Health Champion Nomination

Laura Fowler RPh- Director of Inpatient Pharmacy

In reviewing statewide opioid prescribing trends and data, Ste. Genevieve County is in the epicenter of opioid saturated counties. To be a catalyst for change, Laura took lead in the development of and has led an Opioid Stewardship Committee within our organization. The primary goal of the committee is to reduce the quantity of prescriptions, quantity of tablets per prescription by our providers, and promote awareness and education of opioids within our community- patients and providers. The objectives specifically address the Triple Aim approach to quality healthcare- better health, better care, and lower costs. The committee has developed numerous actionable items to decrease opioid misuse and abuse by patients who are prescribed opioids in our Emergency Department, Same Day Surgery, and Physician Clinics.

• Ste. Genevieve County was one of the 1st rural counties in the area to participate in the state PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program)
• Successful implementation of an e-prescribing program to foster accountability and reduce patient risk with opioid prescribing.
• The EMR has been tailored to alert physicians of what MME (Morphine Milligram Equivalent) that patient is being prescribed before the prescription is issued.
• By education, the committee has successfully decreased ED prescriptions for >3 days supply of opioids by 52% and prescriptions for >15 tablets have decreased by 41% over the past 12 months.
• While being conscientious of the acute nature of pain following surgery, prescriptions in this area for >30 tablets have decreased by 30% and >5 day quantity prescriptions have decreased by 13%.
• The committee has teamed up with the local health department to promote education on the opioid epidemic in our community about opioids
• With collaboration with the health department and our pharmacy, Narcan education is now readily available to community members.
• Development of Pain Management Contracts in our physician clinics to promote patient accountability

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri

January 2017- current

The above outcomes demonstrate the resilience, professionalism, and ability of Laura to lead a team to meet an identified need within our community and organization. Laura has fantastic rapport and respect from our physicians.

Opioids is a need of epidemic proportions across the state of Missouri. Laura’s efforts with the Opioid Stewardship Committee are aligned with goals of our hospital, but as well of the population of patients that we serve. Laura demonstrates her desire to promote safety and positive outcomes within our community. All of the interventions, including utilization of the PDMP, monitoring prescriptions practices, and community education are all innovative to our community. Her efforts are having a measurable, positive impact to our patient population. Therefore, Laura is the best person to be a recipient of the Rural Health Champion Award.

Team

Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital - Rural Health Team Nomination

Dr. Mathew Bosner, MD- Chief of Medicine, Laura Fowler RPh- Director of Inpatient Pharmacy, and the Opioid Stewardship Committee

In reviewing statewide opioid prescribing trends and data, Ste. Genevieve County is in the epicenter of opioid saturated counties. To be a catalyst for change, we have developed an Opioid Stewardship Committee within our organization. The primary goal of the committee is to reduce the quantity of prescriptions, quantity of tablets per prescription, and promote awareness and education of opioids within our community- patients and providers. The objectives specifically address the Triple Aim approach to quality healthcare- better health, better care, and lower costs. The committee has developed and implemented numerous actionable items to decrease opioid misuse and abuse by patients in our Emergency Department, Same Day Surgery, and Physician Clinics.

• Implementation of an inpatient medical stabilization program for opioids and alcohol
• One of our physicians has completed suboxone certification
• Ste. Genevieve County was one of the 1st rural counties in the area to participate in the state PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program)
• Successful implementation of an e-prescribing program to foster accountability and reduce patient risk with opioid prescribing
• The EMR is tailored to alert physicians of what MME (Morphine Milligram Equivalent) a patient is being prescribed before the prescription is issued
• By education, the committee has successfully decreased ED prescriptions for >3 days supply of opioids by 52% and prescriptions for >15 tablets have decreased by 41% over the past 12 months
• While being conscientious of the acute nature of pain following surgery, prescriptions in this area for >30 tablets have decreased by 30% and >5 day quantity prescriptions have decreased by 13%
• The committee has teamed up with the local health department to promote education on the opioid epidemic in our community about opioids
• With collaboration with the health department and our pharmacy, Narcan education is now readily available to community members.
• Development of Pain Management Contracts in our physician clinics to promote patient accountability

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri

January 2017- current

The above outcomes demonstrate the resilience and ability of our Opioid Stewardship Team to meet a specific need within our rural community. The achieved goals are evidence of how our team has made a specific measurable impact. We have been able to collaborate with community entities to facilitate stewardship and reach patients in remote areas of our county. 

Opioids is a need of epidemic proportions across the state of Missouri. The Opioid Stewardship Committee is not only aligned with goals of our hospital, but as well with the population of patients that we serve. Our team demonstrates the desire to promote safety and positive outcomes within our community. All of the interventions, including utilization of the PDMP, monitoring prescription practices, community education, and a service line developed to specifically address the opioid addiction are all innovative to our community. Our efforts are having a measurable impact to our patient population. Our Opioid Stewardship Committee is the best team to be a recipient of the Rural Health Champion Award.