New federal data has hospitals working overtime

New federal data on opioid problems is making Indiana emergency departments and hospitals work overtime.

According to Indiana Public Media, the rate of opioid-related visits to Indiana emergency rooms went up 50 per cent from 2009 to 2014. The latest report shows women were more likely to have inpatient stays and men were more likely to end up in the ER.

Jennifer Hurtubise with the Indiana Hospital Association says although the Indiana is in the middle of the pack, the fact is that we have a number of counties that are in crisis.

With this data, Indy medical doctor at Eskenazi Hospital, Dan O’Donnell says it’s a way to track the problem and determine the depth of it.

Eskenazi Hospital has a program to better connect patients with care while they’re in the ER and Hurtubise says working with hospitals and ER’s in other Indiana counties is promising.

She says the Indiana Hospital Association is working with members on prevention, treatment and recovery.