Centura Health to implement opioid alternative program

ENGLEWOOD — Centura Health, which operates Longmont United Hospital and Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville,  is implementing the Alternative to Opioid (ALTO) program in all 17 of the health system’s emergency rooms and urgent care centers starting Dec. 1.
The Colorado Hospital Association, in coordination with the Colorado American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), has developed and piloted the ALTO program, which resulted in a 36 percent reduction in opioid utilization in 10 Colorado emergency departments, according to a Centura news release.
Centura Health caregivers will utilize the ACEP Opioid Prescribing Guidelines to decrease the number of opioids ordered for patients with defined pain management needs, the release said. ALTO-trained providers and staff will facilitate the education for the patient care teams working at each site.
“Nationally the overprescribing of opioids has resulted in thousands of Americans being treated in emergency rooms each week for not using these medications as directed or intended. This is a national and local crisis as our communities are being overwhelmed by the impact of opioid use disorder and the deaths and illness that accompany this disease.” Centura opioid coordinator Mary Beth Savory said in a prepared statement.