Impact of automated alerts on discharge opioid overprescribing after general surgery.

Overprescribing of opioids for acute pain (such as post-surgical pain) can increase the risk for long-term opioid dependence. This study evaluated whether implementation of an EHR alert reduced opioid overprescribing, defined as opioid prescribing exceeding current recommendations. Among a cohort of patients discharged after surgical procedures commonly associated with overprescribing (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, unilateral open inguinal hernia repair, and laparoscopic appendectomy), researchers identified a significant decrease in opioid overprescribing after the EHR alert implementation (48% pre-implementation to 3% post-implementation). Researchers also observed a significant decrease in the average opioid supply at discharge.