Kendall Regional Medical Center (KRMC) collected 7.5 pounds of opioid medications during its “Crush the Crisis” opioid take back day on September 7 to help combat the nation’s opioid crisis. Community members participated in the event by dropping off unused and expired prescription medications.
“Opioid addiction has been a growing concern not only in Miami-Dade County, but across our nation,” said KRMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Manuel Anton. “We are proud to have taken part in an event that raised awareness of the dangers of opioid addiction and educated our community about the proper disposal of these medications.”
As an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, KRMC is part of a health system that also uses science of “big data” to reduce opioid misuse and transform pain management, with initiatives in surgical, emergency and other care settings including:
Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR)/ALTernatives to Opioids in the Emergency Room (ALTO in the ER): HCA Healthcare focuses on a multi-modal approach to acute pain management. This means two or more methods or medications are employed to reduce the need to use opioids to manage a patient’s pain while recovering from surgery or in the emergency room.
Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS): Physicians have access to aggregated electronic health records that make it more difficult for medication-seekers to doctor-shop or alter prescriptions.
Nearly 65 separate HCA Healthcare facilities participated in a “Crush the Crisis” opioid take back day in their communities on Sept. 7.
About HCA East Florida
Kendall Regional Medical Center is a facility of HCA East Florida. HCA East Florida is the largest healthcare system in Eastern Florida and an affiliate of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). HCA East Florida has 14 hospitals, multiple ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, and free standing emergency care facilities, as well as a supply chain center and an integrated regional lab. Together, HCA East Florida employs more than 18,000 employees and has nearly 7,000 physicians on staff. For more information, visit HCAEastFlorida.com.
About KRMC
Kendall Regional Medical Center, an award-winning 417-bed hospital, is recognized for providing a wide array of services to the residents of South Florida, as well as visitors from around the world. KRMC offers 24-hour comprehensive medical, surgical and diagnostic services, including trauma and burn care, pediatrics and maternity services, an orthopedic and spine institute, along with patient and community services.
For over 45 years, KRMC has been committed to expanding and improving every facet of the organization. Today, the hospital has grown into a major tertiary-care teaching facility, with more than 1,000 physicians and specialists and 1,800 employees.
The main campus of Kendall Regional Medical Center is located at 11750 SW 40 St., Miami, FL 33175. For information visit www.kendallmed.com or call 305-222-2200.
