CDC issues resources to help clinicians apply opioid prescribing guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week released a suite of resources, including a mobile app and video series, to help clinicians apply its opioid prescribing guidelines for adults with chronic pain. The free mobile app, currently available in Google Play and in the Apple Store early next week, includes a morphine milligram equivalent calculator, summaries of key recommendations, a link to the full guidelines and an interactive feature to help providers practice effective communications skills. The short videos aim to educate patients and health care providers about opioids and their risks, and can be shared on social media or used in training sessions or presentations. “The data suggests there is more work to do, and we stand with our partners and stakeholders to deliver impact,” said AHA Chief Medical Officer Jay Bhatt, D.O., in an AHA Stat blog post. For more on the guidelines, issued in March, and how AHA is addressing the opioid crisis, visit cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/resources.html and aha.org/behavioralhealth/opioids.