Urology
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To examine the effectiveness of the introduction of the Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) on discharge postoperative opioid prescriptions in patients undergoing major urologic procedures within a large single tertiary care hospital. Opioids have historically been prescribed to control postoperative pain, but with growing concern regarding opioid overdose, misuse, and diversion, measures have been introduced to curb opioid prescribing. Numerous states have introduced PDMP programs as a method to search patients' prior opioid prescriptions. These programs have reduced opioid prescriptions in emergency department and outpatient settings, but their effectiveness, and the use of a prescriber query mandate, in reducing postoperative opioid prescribing has not been established. ⋯ This is the first study to establish that required PDMP queries may reduce the number of discharge opioid pills prescribed in a surgical setting. Required PDMP queries may help reduce the harm associated with opioid overprescribing.