As the battle against the opioid epidemic rages on, a local program to manage opioid addiction among some of our region's most at-risk patients is gaining national recognition.
Of all the veteran's hospitals in the country, the Northeast Ohio VA Healthcare System is being recognized for its innovative program to cut down on opioid prescriptions and addiction among the veterans it serves – at a time ohio sits at the epicenter of the opioid crisis. Thursday, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, along with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie - who heads up the White House Opioid Task Force, will travel to Cleveland to learn more about the VA's program.
To help us understand how the program is helping our region's veterans steer clear of pain pills -- and how it may be a model for other health systems, ideastream's Kay Colby spoke with Dr. Ali Mchaourab, the head of the pain management program at the Cleveland VA.
Ali Mchaourab, MD, Chief, Pain Medicine Service, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center