Here are four things to know.
1. Opioid misuse is due in part to over-prescribing by healthcare providers, including residents. Surgical residents are frequently tasked with prescribing opioids at patient discharge.
2. The study authors emailed a survey to surgery program directors asking about residency characteristics and the directors’ knowledge of state regulations; 110 directors completed responses.
3. Almost all program directors — 104, or 94.5 percent —allow residents to prescribe outpatient opioids. Over half of the respondents correctly answered whether their state required opioid prescribing education for full licensure; 20 percent of respondents were uncertain.
4. Twenty-nine — 27.9 percent — of programs require residents to obtain individual drug enforcement agency registration.
More articles on practice management:
Lehigh Valley Health adds neurosurgery, orthopedic & more specialty services — 3 highlights
10 best, worst states for physician competition
