Saint Mary’s launches innovative program to optimize pain management and reduce opioid use

Saint Mary’s Regional Health System is proud to announce its participation in the Billion Pill Pledge program, launched in partnership with Goldfinch Health and made possible by Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership Settlement Funding from the opioid abatement partnership between the Arkansas Municipal League (AML) and the Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC).

Surgery has long been known as a gateway to long-term opioid painkiller use and dependence. Research shows up to 9% of surgery patients who have never used an opioid become long-term users of opioids after being prescribed opioids after surgery.  

Through the Billion Pill Pledge program, Saint Mary’s will enhance its surgery protocols and optimize pain management around surgery. These industry-leading approaches are designed to enhance patients’ preparation for surgery, better manage any surgery-related pain, and minimize opioid use both before and after surgery.  

“We are excited to be one of the first hospitals in Arkansas to launch this critical first dose prevention program at our hospital,” said Casey Willis, Saint Mary’s CEO. “Opioid challenges are not just patient challenges. They are community challenges. The Billion Pill Pledge program will help us to better serve our community."  

As a part of this program, patients will have access to a Goldfinch Nurse Navigator who are experts in surgery and recovery. Patients will receive a “Prepared for Surgery” care package prior to surgery. This box includes a number of items key to optimizing a patient’s surgery experience. Goldfinch Nurses will also support patients during the critical period before and after surgery to help increase the use of opioid minimizing surgery protocols.  

“The support provided by Goldfinch Health is critical to our success in optimizing patient care, especially when our resources are stretched,” said Dr. Mateo Guarderas, general surgeon at Saint Mary’s. “This program means our patients have access to the resources they need to confidently prepare for and successfully recover from surgery.”  

The mission of the Billion Pill Pledge is to reduce leftover opioids after surgery in the United States by 1 billion pills each year, thereby avoiding those pills being possibly diverted to unauthorized use by others.  

Goldfinch Health is an Austin, TX-based company dedicated to enhancing surgical outcomes, improving the surgery experience for patients, and reducing opioid use.  

For more information about the Billion Pill Pledge program, please contact:  

Meredith Allan: Meredith.Allan@goldfinchhealth.com  

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