Papers of the Week

The use of opioid analgesics for pain management in hospitalized patients is associated with a high risk of adverse events, including respiratory depression which may lead to respiratory arrest and death. Patients who experience opioid-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have been shown to experience longer and more costly hospital stays and have a higher risk of requiring a readmission after discharge. In this study, we report on the impact of the introduction of Wesley Medical Center's Safe Medication Practice Protocol on opioid-related ADRs.