VITAS Healthcare, a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHEM), has released a comprehensive opioid conversion tool for hospice providers, which the company says is the first of its kind. The tool is available to all health care prescribers at no cost via the VITAS mobile app.
VITAS released the feature in conjunction with National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. The converter analyzes patients’ personalized health information and their clinical needs to recommend optimal opioid options, delivery methods and dose titration. The tool integrates prescriber input regarding symptoms, comorbidities and health status.
“Pain management for hospice patients can be a complex practice that differs greatly from the treatment of other populations,” said Joseph Shega, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer for VITAS. “We consider a variety of non-pharmacological and pharmacological options to help alleviate pain with minimal side effects and give patients the comfort and quality of life they deserve.”
Pain management is a cornerstone of hospice and palliative care. A 2014 study found patients and families view pain and symptom management as their top priority related to quality of hospice care.
Deficiencies in pain management can affect a hospice’s publicly reported quality and patient and family satisfaction scores, which prospective referral partners and patients are using increasingly when choosing a hospice.
About 25% of health care provider respondents to a 2019 Pain News Network survey indicated that at least one of their patients had committed suicide due to pain during the prior three years.
The VITAS tool is based on clinical evidence and scientific literature on the mitigation of opioid risks such as inconsistent practices and protocols among providers, according to the company.
The feature is integrated into VITAS’ mobile app, which received a 2019 Mobile User Experience Award. The app is designed to support clinicians as they determine patients’ hospice eligibility and streamline referral processes.
“We’ve made our opioid conversion tool available at no cost to all health care professionals because we are committed to sharing best practices and elevating the standard of care for all patients as they approach the end of life,” said Shega. “The tool is intuitive, efficient, secure and updated on an ongoing basis to provide the latest information on guidelines and changes in medication status.”
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