November 27, 2023 – HCA Florida Healthcare today announced that it collected 642.4 pounds of medications during HCA Healthcare’s fifth annual “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take-back day on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. Working alongside local law enforcement officers, HCA Florida Healthcare Hospitals: HCA Florida Highlands Hospital, HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, HCA Florida Northwest Hospital, HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, and HCA Florida Westside Hospital invited community members to safely and anonymously dispose of unused and expired medications for proper disposal. The event aligned with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and helped to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse.
- 5 total collection sites
- 642.4 lbs collected
“Opioids are as dangerous as any medication in use today, and this program is essential to removing unnecessary pills from medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers, and bedside tables where accidents and misuse are leading to too many tragedies,” said HCA East Florida Division Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Kelly. “Through dedication and a shared commitment to crushing the opioid crisis, HCA Florida Healthcare exemplifies excellence in serving our patients and communities.”
HCA Healthcare uses data from approximately 37 million annual patient encounters to help continuously improve care. As a part of HCA Healthcare, HCA Florida Healthcare Hospitals use the science of “big data” to reduce prescription drug misuse and transform pain management, with initiatives in surgical, emergency, and other care settings, including:
- Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR): a multi-modal approach to pain management using pre-, intra-, and post-operative interventions to optimize outcomes. HCA Healthcare’s ESR programs have demonstrated significant improvements in surgical recovery and patient satisfaction, including an up to 44% decrease in opioid usage for some surgeries.
- Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS): aims to stem increasing rates of prescription pain reliever-related addiction, misuse diversion and death by making it more difficult for medication-seekers to doctor-shop and alter prescriptions. Physicians have access to aggregated electronic health records, providing data that will allow them to prescribe opioids judiciously.
This year, all 15 HCA Healthcare U.S. divisions participated in a “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take back day at 138 collection sites across 15 states.
HCA Florida Healthcare:
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated care sites, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms, and urgent care centers, offering the state’s leading network of personalized care. United as a statewide network in 2021, HCA Florida Healthcare includes more than 11,000 experienced doctors and more than 79,000 colleagues working together to deliver advanced, collaborative care to more than 6.4 million patients each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provided nearly $836.6 million in uncompensated care and invested significantly in innovative technologies and facilities across Florida, including the new $360 million state-of-the-art, multi-specialty HCA Florida University Hospital in Davie, Fla. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a significant supporter of university-based healthcare programs, residencies, and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit www.HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
HCA East Florida Healthcare:
About HCA East Florida Division
HCA East Florida Division, a part of HCA Florida Healthcare, comprises 14 hospitals, seven free-standing emergency rooms, 12 ambulatory surgery centers, and 105 physician practices along the Treasure Coast and in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties. More than 15,000 dedicated colleagues proudly make up the East Florida Division and are committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
-HCA EAST FLORIDA-
HCA Florida Aventura Hospital + HCA Florida Highlands Hospital + HCA Florida JFK Hospital Center + HCA Florida JFK North Hospital + HCA Florida Kendall Hospital + HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital + HCA Florida Mercy Hospital + HCA Florida Northwest Hospital + HCA Florida Palms West Hospital + HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital + HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital + HCA Florida University Hospital + HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital + HCA Florida Westside Hospital
Connect with us online: HCAFloridaHealthcare.com
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