Mayo Clinic has done extensive research into the use of opioids across the U.S., and this work has led to prescribing guidelines that are being used across Mayo Clinic and at other health care organizations.

With a shared goal to increase public awareness and drive action, Mayo Clinic and Twin Cities PBS have partnered to produce "The Opioid Fix," a three-part documentary series.

The first episode of the documentary will air 6 p.m. CST Sunday, Oct. 27, on Twin Cities PBS. The episode provides an overview of opioids, and features Mayo Clinic's research and education.

The second and third episodes air Nov. 3 and Nov. 10, respectively, and offer a look at how communities — both geographic and population-based — play a role in effectively addressing the opioid epidemic.

The documentary series, also available for streaming on tpt.org, highlights Mayo's research on prescribing habits, as well as how research is used to create prescribing guidelines, address opioid abuse, educate providers and patients, and promote appropriate pain management. It also details the different perspectives of the medical community, legislators, law enforcement and community groups as they address what many are calling an opioid epidemic.

"As physicians and medical providers, we cannot underestimate our responsibility in being good stewards of these medicines and what we have contributed to this problem," Halena Gazelka, M.D., chair of the Mayo Clinic Opioid Stewardship Program, says in the film.

The series features more than a dozen Mayo Clinic physicians, nurses, anesthetists, pharmacists, psychologists, students and scientists working together to monitor, manage and transform pain management plans to best serve patients everywhere.

Educators, medical students and prescribing clinicians train with actors at the Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center, for example, on how to communicate with patients about opioids. Mayo also is working with local law enforcement to reduce extra opioids sitting in medicine cabinets with drug take-back days, such as the one taking place in Rochester on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Gonda West entrance (200 1st St. SW, Rochester, Minnesota).

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About Twin Cities PBS (TPT) 

Twin Cities PBS (TPT)’s mission is to enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media. Established in Saint Paul 58 years ago, TPT now operates as a public service media organization that harnesses a range of media tools to serve citizens in new ways — with multiple broadcast channels, online teaching resources, educational outreach and community engagement activities. Over its nearly 60-year history, TPT has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmy® Awards.

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news and An Inside Look at Mayo Clinic for more information about Mayo.

Tags: Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Events, Helena Gazelka, medical research, medical research education, News, opioids, pain management