Multicomponent Interventions in a Large Health System Reduced Opioid Prescribing

The rapid growth in opioid deaths is related in large part to opioid prescribing by physicians. In this pilot project from an east coast healthcare system that serves more than 1 million patients and employs more than 300 clinicians in the Annapolis, Maryland, area, a wide range of prescriber and health system changes to reduce opioid prescribing were assessed.

Opioid prescribing in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) was measured for 6 months, followed by a 3-month intervention period and remeasurement of opioid prescribing during 16 months of postintervention observation. The intervention included public, patient, and physician education; feedback to physicians on their personal prescribing practices compared with peers; and smaller amou…