Graduates Of Higher Ranked U.S. Medical Schools Wrote Fewer Opioid Prescriptions From 2006 To 2014 Than Graduates Of Lower Ranked Schools

Physician prescribing data for opioid prescriptions written from 2006 to 2014 showed variation among physicians that may be linked to their general medical school training. The association was most observable among general practice (GP) physicians working in internal medicine or family medicine. GPs who graduated from the highest ranked U.S. medical school wrote half as many opioid prescriptions as GPs who graduated from the seven lowest ranked medical schools. The association was not present among physicians in specialties that receive additional training about opioid prescribing—pain medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and anesthesiology—although physicians in these specialties prescribe . . .