and empathy when addressing patients regarding their pain manage-
ment issues. This encourages an ongoing dialogue. If a patient, for
example, requests more opioids during the post-op phone call, or if
you encounter the very rare patient who is truly drug-seeking, you can
refer them to a pain specialist or their surgeon for appropriate follow-
up care.
Our shared obligation
As medical professionals, we have a clear responsibility to treat
patients' pain effectively and safely. We also have a clear responsibili-
ty to help slow the tide of drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Adopting best prescribing practices and having a plan in place to
implement them will ensure you continue to provide patients with the
quality care they deserve.
OSM
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 7
Ms. Millsap (cmillsap@mpscllc.org) is the COO at Monterey (Calif.) Peninsula Surgery
Center, and serves on the California Ambulatory Surgery Association's board of direc-
tors.
