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Goldfinch Health presents ERAS program to Elko County to curb postoperative opioid exposure
Summary
Goldfinch Health described its Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program and 'billion pill pledge,' citing pilot results (60% reduction in post-surgery opioid prescribing, 92% reduction in refill rate) and asked the county to consider using settlement dollars or providing the program as a benefit to county employees.
Goldfinch Health representative Patrick Madigan presented an opioid-prevention program to the Elko County commissioners, emphasizing efforts to reduce initial opioid exposure after surgery through ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols and patient support. Madigan framed the company's work as upstream prevention—reducing exposure that can lead to dependence—and cited studies and pilot results, including a peer-reviewed look at the Iowa pilot published in a specialty journal.
"We are working to try to keep people from becoming addicted in the first place," Madigan said, describing ERAS protocols and a support model that pairs remote RNs with surgical patients during the perioperative period. He said Goldfinch's pilots produced a 60% reduction in post-surgery pill counts and a 92% reduction in opioid refill rates, and suggested the county consider using opioid settlement dollars or offering the program as a benefit to county employees. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the CDC metric Madigan cited (prescriptions per 100 people) and how program enrollment or HIPAA protections would be managed; Madigan agreed to follow up with precise timing for the CDC metric and to provide additional details to commissioners.
