Opioid e-prescribing trends at discharge in a large pediatric health system

Objective: Legitimate opioid prescriptions have been identified as a risk factor for opioid misuse in pediatric patients. In 2014, Pennsylvania legislation expanded a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) to curb inappropriate controlled substance prescriptions. The authors’ objective was to describe recent opioid prescribing trends at a large, pediatric health system situated in a region with one of the highest opioid-related death rates in the United States and examine the impact of the PDMP on prescribing trends.Design: Quasi-experimental assessment of trends of opioid e-prescriptions, from 2012 to 2017. Multivariable Poisson segmented regression examined the effect of the PDMP. Period prevalence comparison of opioid e-prescriptions across the care continuum in 2016.Results: There were 62,661 opioid e-prescriptions identified during the study period. Combination opioid/non-opioid prescriptions decreased, while oxycodone prescriptions increased. Seasonal variation was evident. Of 110,884 inpatient encounters, multivariable regression demonstrated lower odds of an opioid being prescribed at discharge per month of the study period (p 0.001) and a significant interaction between passage of the PDMP legislation and time (p = 0.03). Black patients had lower odds of receiving an opioid at discharge compared to white patients. Inpatients had significantly greater odds of receiving an opioid compared to emergency department (Prevalence Odds Ratio 7.1 [95% confidence interval: 6.9-7.3]; p 0.001) and outpatient (398.9 [355.5-447.5]; p 0.001) encounters.Conclusion: In a large pediatric health system, oxycodone has emerged as the most commonly prescribed opioid in recent years. Early evidence indicates that a state-run drug monitoring program is associated with reduced opioid prescribing. Additional study is necessary to examine the relationship between opioid prescriptions and race.

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Effects of Rescheduling Hydrocodone on Opioid Prescribing in Ohio

Pain Medicine ◽

10.1093/pm/pnz210 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 1863-1870 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yingna Liu ◽

Olesya Baker ◽

Jeremiah D Schuur ◽

Scott G Weiner

Keyword(s):

Monitoring Program ◽

Interrupted Time Series ◽

Substitution Effect ◽

The United States ◽

Prescription Database ◽

Interrupted Time Series Analysis ◽

Opioid Prescribing ◽

Level Change ◽

Prescribing Trends ◽

Before And After

Abstract Background We quantified opioid prescribing after the 2014 rescheduling of hydrocodone from schedule III to II in the United States using a state-wide prescription database and studied trends three years before and after the policy change, focusing on certain specialties. Methods We used Ohio’s state prescription drug monitoring program database, which includes all filled schedule II and III prescriptions regardless of payer or pharmacy, to conduct an interrupted time series analysis of the nine most prescribed opioids: hydrocodone, oxycodone, tramadol, codeine, and others. We analyzed hydrocodone prescribing trends for the physician specialties of internal medicine, anesthesiology, and emergency medicine. We evaluated trends 37 months before and after the rescheduling change. Results Rescheduling was associated with a hydrocodone level change of –26,358 (95% confidence interval [CI] = –36,700 to –16,016) prescriptions (–5.8%) and an additional decrease in prescriptions of –1,568 (95% CI = –2,296 to –839) per month (–0.8%). Codeine prescribing temporarily increased, at a level change of 6,304 (95% CI = 3,003 to 9,606) prescriptions (18.5%), indicating a substitution effect. Hydrocodone prescriptions by specialty were associated with a level change of –805 (95% CI = –1,280 to –330) prescriptions (–8.5%) for anesthesiologists and a level change of –14,619 (95% CI = –23,710 to –5,528) prescriptions (–10.2%) for internists. There was no effect on prescriptions by emergency physicians. Conclusions The 2014 federal rescheduling of hydrocodone was associated with declines in hydrocodone prescriptions in Ohio beyond what had already been occurring, and hydrocodone may have been briefly substituted with codeine. These results indicate that rescheduling did have a lasting effect but affected prescribing specialties variably.

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The Effect of a Statewide Mandatory Prescription Drug Monitoring Program on Opioid Prescribing by Emergency Medicine Providers Across 15 Hospitals in a Single Health System

Journal of Pain ◽

10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.010 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 430-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Brian Suffoletto ◽

Michael Lynch ◽

Charissa B. Pacella ◽

Donald M. Yealy ◽

Clifton W. Callaway

Keyword(s):

Emergency Medicine ◽

Health System ◽

Prescription Drug ◽

Drug Monitoring ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Opioid Prescribing ◽

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

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How the presentation of patient information and decision-support advisories influences opioid prescribing behavior: A simulation study

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association ◽

10.1093/jamia/ocz213 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 613-620 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mustafa I Hussain ◽

Ariana M Nelson ◽

Brent G Yeung ◽

Lauren Sukumar ◽

Kai Zheng

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Prescription Drug ◽

Patient Information ◽

Drug Monitoring ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

The United States ◽

Prescribing Behavior ◽

Opioid Prescribing ◽

Alternative Condition ◽

Electronic Health

Abstract Objective The United States faces an opioid crisis. Integrating prescription drug monitoring programs into electronic health records offers promise to improve opioid prescribing practices. This study aimed to evaluate 2 different user interface designs for prescription drug monitoring program and electronic health record integration. Materials and Methods Twenty-four resident physicians participated in a randomized controlled experiment using 4 simulated patient cases. In the conventional condition, prescription opioid histories were presented in tabular format, and computerized clinical decision support (CDS) was provided via interruptive modal dialogs (ie, pop-ups). The alternative condition featured a graphical opioid history, a cue to visit that history, and noninterruptive CDS. Two attending pain specialists judged prescription appropriateness. Results Participants in the alternative condition wrote more appropriate prescriptions. When asked after the experiment, most participants stated that they preferred the alternative design to the conventional design. Conclusions How patient information and CDS are presented appears to have a significant influence on opioid prescribing behavior.

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Evaluation of an Educational Outreach Campaign (IMPACT) on Pain Management Delivered to General Practices in Walsall

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1093/ijpp/riab015.059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i48-i49

Author(s):

S Visram ◽

J Saini ◽

R Mandvia

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Pain Management ◽

Cancer Pain ◽

Educational Intervention ◽

Opioid Analgesics ◽

Educational Outreach ◽

Opioid Prescribing ◽

Prescribing Trends ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction Opioid class drugs are a commonly prescribed form of analgesic widely used in the treatment of acute, cancer and chronic non-cancer pain. Up to 90% of individuals presenting to pain centres receive opioids, with doctors in the UK prescribing more and stronger opioids (1). Concern is increasing that patients with chronic pain are inappropriately being moved up the WHO ‘analgesic ladder’, originally developed for cancer pain, without considering alternatives to medications, (2). UK guidelines on chronic non-cancer pain management recommend weak opioids as a second-line treatment, when the first-line non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs / paracetamol) ineffective, and for short-term use only. A UK educational outreach programme by the name IMPACT (Improving Medicines and Polypharmacy Appropriateness Clinical Tool) was conducted on pain management. This research evaluated the IMPACT campaign, analysing the educational impact on the prescribing of morphine, tramadol and other high-cost opioids, in the Walsall CCG. Methods Standardised training material was delivered to 50 practices between December 2018 and June 2019 by IMPACT pharmacists. The training included a presentation on pain control, including dissemination of local and national guidelines, management of neuropathic, low back pain and sciatica as well as advice for prescribers on prescribing opioids in long-term pain, with the evidence-base. Prescribing trends in primary care were also covered in the training, and clinicians were provided with resources to use in their practice. Data analysis included reviewing prescribing data and evaluating the educational intervention using feedback from participants gathered via anonymous questionnaires administered at the end of the training. Prescribing data analysis was conducted by Keele University’s Medicines Management team via the ePACT 2 system covering October 2018 to September 2019 (two months before and three months after the intervention) were presented onto graphs to form comparisons in prescribing trends of the Midland CCG compared to England. Results Questionnaires completed at the end of sessions showed high levels of satisfaction, with feedback indicating that participants found the session well presented, successful at highlighting key messages, and effective in using evidence-based practice. 88% of participants agreed the IMPACT campaign increased their understanding of the management and assessment of pain, and prescribing of opioids and other resources available to prescribers. The majority (85%) wished to see this form of education being repeated regularly in the future for other therapeutic areas. Analysis of the prescribing data demonstrated that the total volume of opioid analgesics decreased by 1.7% post-intervention in the Midlands CCG in response to the pharmacist-led educational intervention. As supported by literature, the use of educational strategies, including material dissemination and reminders as well as group educational outreach was effective in engaging clinicians, as demonstrated by the reduction in opioid prescribing and high GP satisfaction in this campaign. Conclusion The IMPACT campaign was effective at disseminating pain-specific guidelines for opioid prescribing to clinicians, leading to a decrease in overall prescribing of opioid analgesics. Educational outreach as an approach is practical and a valuable means to improve prescribing by continuing medical education. References 1. Els, C., Jackson, T., Kunyk, D., Lappi, V., Sonnenberg, B., Hagtvedt, R., Sharma, S., Kolahdooz, F. and Straube, S. (2017). Adverse events associated with medium- and long-term use of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. This provided the statistic of percentage receiving opioids that present to pain centres. 2. Heit, H. (2010). Tackling the Difficult Problem of Prescription Opioid Misuse. Annals of Internal Medicine, 152(11), p.747. Issues with prescriptions and inappropriate moving up the WHO ladder.

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1536. Impact of Type of Provider on Appropriateness of Treatment for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia in Outpatient Clinics

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.1716 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S768-S768

Author(s):

Katherine Sittig ◽

Rossana Rosa Espinoza

Keyword(s):

Health System ◽

Adult Patients ◽

Outpatient Clinics ◽

P Value ◽

Lower Odds ◽

Des Moines ◽

Appropriate Treatment ◽

Integrated Health ◽

Pregnancy Status ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) receive care in a variety of outpatient settings with medical providers of different levels of training and expertise, especially regarding STIs. We aimed to determine the impact of type of provider on the appropriateness of treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea in a large integrated health system. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients diagnosed with chlamydia and/or gonorrhea at any outpatient clinic within an integrated health system in Des Moines, Iowa. Nucleic-acid amplification tests were used for diagnosis, and all samples were processed at the same laboratory. Adequate treatment was defined as prescription for appropriate antibiotic, dose and duration within 7 days of the positive test. Logistic regression models with robust standard errors and adjusting for clustering by clinic were built. Results We identified 481 unique patients and a total of 515 unique encounters. Considering unique patients only, the median patient age was 23 years (IQR 20-26), 466/481 (96.9%) were female (96.9%), 15/481 (3.1%) were male, and 79/481 (16.4%) were pregnant. Table 1 shows the patient demographic and provider characteristics by appropriateness of treatment for individual visits. A total of 53 patients had inappropriate treatment, some with multiple errors which are described in Table 2. Provider type, age, type of infection, and pregnancy status were significantly associated with appropriateness of treatment. After adjusting for type of infection, pregnancy status and clustering by clinic, compared to physicians, certified nurse midwives (CNMs) had 33% lower odds of prescribing appropriate treatment (95% CI 0.49-0.91; p-value = 0.010), with no difference in appropriateness of prescribing by mid-level providers (OR 1.61, 95% CI 0.82-3.17; p-value = 0.167). Pregnancy was independently associated with lower odds of appropriate treatment (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.24-0.52; p-value < 0.001), as was infection with gonorrhea (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12-0.68; p-value = 0.004). Table 1. Demographic characteristics of adult patients diagnosed with chlamydia and/or gonorrhea in outpatient clinics by appropriateness of treatment. Des Moines, Iowa, January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 Table 2. Type of therapeutic errors encountered among patients diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea Conclusion CNMs had lower odds of prescribing appropriate treatment for STIs. Efforts aimed at improving prescribing by healthcare providers should actively engage with this group. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Longitudinal changes in age and race of patients with SARS-CoV-2 in a multi-hospital health system

10.1101/2021.08.16.21262016 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ian J. Barbash ◽

Lee H. Harrison ◽

Jana L. Jacobs ◽

Faraaz Ali Shah ◽

Tomeka L. Suber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health System ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Patient Characteristics ◽

The United States ◽

Electronic Health Record Data ◽

Younger Patients ◽

Ethnic Subgroups ◽

Media Reports ◽

Alpha Variant ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the United States and the world. Media reports have suggested that the wave of the alpha variant in the Spring of 2021 in the US caused more cases among younger patients and racial and ethnic subgroups.ApproachWe analyzed electronic health record data from a multihospital health system to test whether younger patients accounted for more cases and more severe disease, and whether racial disparities are widening. We compared demographics, patient characteristics, and hospitalization variables for patients admitted from November 2020 through January 2021 to those admitted in March and April 2021.ResultsWe analyzed data for 37, 502 unique inpatients and outpatients at 21 hospitals from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Compared to patients from November through January, those with positive tests in March and April were younger and less likely to die. Among patients under age 50, those with positive tests in March and April were three times as likely to be hospitalized and twice as likely to require ICU admission or mechanical ventilation. Individuals identified as Black represented a greater proportion of cases and hospitalizations in March and April as compared to November through January.ConclusionsWe found that relative COVID-19 hospitalization rates for younger individuals and individuals identified as Black were rising over time. These findings have important implications for ongoing public health measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

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