Qsource Project Featured in Tennessee Department of Health Spotlight

On a quarterly basis, the Tennessee Department of Health’s Civil Monetary Program (CMP) spotlights successful CMP projects that are improving Nursing Home quality across Tennessee.

Qsource CMP Project: Training and Assistance to Individualize Pain Management and Improve Opioid Safety in Nursing Homes
Project Period: April 15, 2019 – April 14, 2022

Approximately 70% of US nursing home residents with chronic pain are regularly prescribed opioids, yet studies and guidelines on medication use in older adults warn that these drugs may have particularly adverse effects. Opioids and ineffective pain management can contribute to the worsening of residents’ quality of life and nursing homes’ quality measures, including falls, weight loss, depression, ADLs, pressure ulcers, bladder incontinence, and restraints.

Qsource is working with 48 facilities through a comprehensive program that includes in-person training of SNF staff members on safer opioid use and non-opioid pain management; implementing the use of Comfort Menus to provide alternative pain treatment customized to residents’ individual needs; and technical assistance to provide continued support and guidance. This project seeks to improve clinical outcomes associated with SNFs’ 13 long-stay quality measures. The success of the project has been evaluated through four outcome measures, including the number of non-opioid pain treatments offered at SNFs and resident satisfaction with pain management. Participating facilities have reported an increase in non-opioid pain treatments from 8.9 to 12.9. These facilities have also reported an improvement in resident satisfaction with pain management as measured by the Pain, Enjoyment, and General Activity scale assessment of 4.7 to 3.9.