GNYHA held a May 7 member briefing at which The Joint Commission (TJC), the New York State Department of Health (DOH), and the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) detailed new pain assessment and management standards, including New York State’s substance use disorder (SUD) regulatory requirements. TJC standards went into effect January 1, 2018, and require hospitals to recognize pain assessment and management as an institutional priority, and actively involve medical staff leadership in pain management and assessment performance improvement activities. Hospitals also must assess and manage their patients’ pain, minimize risks associated with treatment, and collect and analyze data on pain assessment and management.
DOH regulations, pending publication in the New York State Register, will require hospitals to develop policies and procedures for individuals with or who appear to be at risk for SUD. Hospitals will be required to provide patients with information on SUD services, refer and coordinate with SUD programs as appropriate, and train staff on SUD policies and procedures.
Northwell Health discussed its system-wide Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment initiative, and Catholic Health Services of Long Island detailed how it’s connecting SUD patients to peer resources in the emergency department (ED) and planning activities to start medication-assisted treatment in EDs. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene discussed public health initiatives and the resources available to patients, providers, and communities, in an effort to curb the epidemic. Meeting materials and a recording of the program are available here.