UK Opioid Stewardship Team Receives ASHP Best Practices Award
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2019) — The American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists presents the Best Practices Award each year to outstanding pharmacy practitioners. Last week, UK’s Opioid Stewardship team was one of only six recipients nationally.
The Best Practices Award program was created in 1999 to recognize those who use innovative solutions to problem solve in the field of pharmacy. The main goal of UK’s Opioid Stewardship program is to give providers the tools, skills and knowledge to safely prescribe opioids for analgesia, the inability to feel pain.
“We’re currently launching collaborations with state organizations to help other hospitals and health systems better understand and embrace their roles in responding to the opioid crisis in Kentucky,” said Doug Oyler, director of UK HealthCare’s Office of Opioid Safety. “Internally, we are beginning partnerships with ambulatory providers to help ensure safe opioid use in the outpatient setting as well.”
When asked what the award means to the team, Oyler said it’s refreshing for Kentucky to be recognized for addressing the problem, rather than just having it.
“It was encouraging that a state known as the epicenter of the opioid crisis is beginning to be associated with the epicenter of the response,” said Oyler. “This additional recognition serves to further UK’s reputation as a leader in this field.”
This is the third time UK HealthCare has won this award, but the first time since 2007. Members of the team include:
Oyler; Komal Pandya, PharmD; Stephanie Abel, PharmD; Kimberley Hite, PharmD; Oyler, PharmD; Timothy Clifford, PharmD; Dr. Kristy Deep; Brooke Herndon, PharmD; Dr. Phillip Chang; Rachael Morgan, PharmD; Noelle Leung, PharmD; Abby Williams, PharmD; and Barbara Vanderveer.
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