Opioid abuse and addiction have swept across the country flooding hospital and health system emergency departments and inpatient beds with those suffering from addiction and the effects of overdose. Patients, communities, and provider organizations are experiencing the devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, hospital and health system executives have been inundated with headline news related to the opioid crisis. This extensive coverage, while critical for providing context on the situation, can often leave hospital and health system executives feeling overwhelmed and unsure of the best path forward in addressing this mission-critical issue.

This research report provides executives with a framework for crafting a comprehensive and proactive opioid response strategy. The report begins by unpacking the implications of the opioid epidemic on hospitals and health systems specifically. Next, it gives leaders clear guidance on mobilizing an effective approach to addiction prevention, effective pain management, and addiction treatment.

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Unpacking the opioid crisis

The opioid epidemic and its disruptive impact on the health of millions of Americans has exacerbated existing margin pressures and care access challenges. Health care executives must understand these provider-specific operational and financial implications in order to build an effective, comprehensive opioid-response strategy. Read more on p.8 .

Mobilizing an addiction prevention and pain management strategy

Providers and patients have a tangible opportunity to limit the spread of the opioid epidemic by working together to prevent new cases of opioid addiction. By prioritizing alternative means of pain management, they can reduce the prevalence of opioids in the community. Hospital and health system executives should ensure their organizations have the motivation, tools, and support to consistently and effectively reduce the risk of new addiction.

• 1. Commit to change from the C-Suite (p. 19)

  2. Harness existing clinical standardization strategies (p. 20)

  3. Create opioid-specific education and protocols (p. 21)

  4. Empower the patient to become part of the solution (p. 24)

Maximizing opportunities to deploy addiction treatment

Once providers have started the process of building an addiction-prevention program, the next step is to expand treatment for individuals already suffering from addiction. The executive’s role in this work is partner with clinicians to identify the most effective clinical components of addiction treatment, create triage protocols that ensure the right care is being delivered appropriately throughout the system, and invest resources in expanding broader community access.

• 5. Base treatment strategy on expansion of MAT (p. 27)

  6. Capitalize on hospitalizations to begin treatment (p. 28)

  7. Incorporate MAT into existing outpatient assets (p. 29)

  8. Catalyze broader community access to treatment (p. 30)

Prioritizing top provider intervention opportunities

Hospital and health system executives will not be able to deploy their full strategies to confront the opioid epidemic all at once. They will need to prioritize potential elements of their organization’s intervention strategy.

• 9. Develop response based on local needs and span of organizational control (p. 32)

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