Palliative Care Utilization and Hospital Transfers in Veterans Treated in Telecritical Care-Supported Intensive Care Units Versus Non-Telecritical Care Intensive Care Units.

Background: Although telecritical care (TCC) implementation is associated with reduced mortality and interhospital transfer rates, its impact on goal-concordant care delivery in critical illness is unknown. We hypothesized that implementation of TCC across the Veterans' Health Administration system resulted in increased palliative care consultation and goals of care evaluation, yielding reduced transfer rates. Methods: We included veterans admitted to intensive care units between 2008 and 2022. We compared palliative care consultation and transfer rates before and after TCC implementation with rates in facilities that never implemented TCC. We used generalized linear mixed multivariable models to assess the associations between TCC initiation, palliative care consultation, and transfer and subsequently used mediation analysis to evaluate potential causality in this relationship. Results: Overall, 1,020,901 veterans met inclusion criteria. Demographic characteristics of patients were largely comparable across groups, although TCC facilities served more rural veterans. Palliative care consultation rates increased substantially in both ever-TCC and never-TCC hospitals during the study period (2.3%-4.3%, and 1.6%-4.7%, p < 0.01). Admissions post-TCC implementation were associated with an increased likelihood of palliative care consultation (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.15). TCC implementation was also associated with a reduction in transfer rates (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84-0.95). Mediation analysis did not demonstrate a causal relationship between TCC implementation, palliative care consultation, and reductions in interhospital transfer rate. Conclusions: TCC is associated with increased palliative care engagement, while TCC and palliative care engagement are both independently related to reduced transfers.

Continuation of Buprenorphine During Hospitalization and Subsequent Retention in Therapy: an Observational Study in Veterans Administration Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Inpatient hospitalization has the potential to disrupt buprenorphine therapy. OBJECTIVE: Among patients receiving outpatient buprenorphine prior to admission, we determined the rate of discontinuation during medical and surgical admissions to VA hospitals and its association with subsequent post-discharge continuation of buprenorphine therapy. DESIGN AND MAIN MEASURES: We conducted an observational study using Veterans Administration data from 10/1/2018 to 3/31/2020 for all medical and surgical admissions where Veterans had active buprenorphine prescriptions at the time of admission. Pre-admission buprenorphine prescriptions were categorized as either sublingual (presumed indication for opioid use disorder (OUD)) or buccal/topical (presumed indication for pain). The primary measure of post-discharge buprenorphine receipt was any outpatient buprenorphine prescription dispensed between 1 day prior to discharge and 60 days following discharge. KEY RESULTS: A total of 830 unique inpatient hospitalizations to medical or surgical services occurred among Veterans receiving sublingual (48.3%) or buccal/topical (51.7%) buprenorphine prior to admission. Fewer than half (43.9%) of these patients received buprenorphine at some point during the medical or surgical portion of their hospital stay. Among the 766 patients discharged from a medical or surgical unit, 74.3% received an outpatient buprenorphine prescription within the 60 days following discharge (80.2% sublingual and 69.1% buccal/topical). Among patients who had received buprenorphine during the final 36 h prior to discharge, subsequent outpatient buprenorphine receipt was observed in 94.0%, compared to only 63.7% among those not receiving buprenorphine during the final 36 h (χ2 = 83.5, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Inpatient buprenorphine administrations near the time of discharge were highly predictive of continued outpatient therapy and a significant subset of patients did not continue or reinitiate buprenorphine therapy following discharge. As recommendations for perioperative and inpatient management of buprenorphine coalescence around continuation, efforts are needed to optimize hospital-based buprenorphine practices.

Military Veterans' Perspectives on Postoperative Opioid Use: A Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Data.

PURPOSE: This qualitative analysis of interviews with surgical patients who received a brief perioperative psychological intervention, in conjunction with standard medical perioperative care, elucidates patient perspectives on the use of pain self-management skills in relation to postoperative analgesics. DESIGN: This study is a secondary analysis of qualitative data from a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Participants (N = 21) were rural-dwelling United States Military Veterans from a mixed surgical sample who were randomized to receive a manual-based, telephone-based Perioperative Pain Self-management intervention consisting of a total of four pre- and postoperative contacts. Semi-structured qualitative interviews elicited participant feedback on the cognitive-behavioral intervention. Data was analyzed by two qualitative experts using MAXQDA software. Key word analyses focused on mention of analgesics in interviews. FINDINGS: Interviews revealed a dominant theme of ambivalence towards postoperative use of opioids. An additional theme concerned the varied ways acquiring pain self-management skills impacted postoperative opioid (and non-opioid analgesic) consumption. Participants reported that employment of pain self-management strategies reduced reliance on pharmacology for pain relief, prolonged the time between doses, took the "edge off" pain, and increased pain management self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative patient education may benefit from inclusion of teaching non-pharmacologic pain self-management skills and collaborative planning with patients regarding how to use these skills in conjunction with opioid and non-opioid analgesics. Perianesthesia nurses may be in a critical position to provide interdisciplinary postoperative patient education that may optimize postoperative pain management while minimizing risks associated with prolonged opioid use.

Implementation of a consensus protocol for antibiotic use for bone and joint infection to reduce unnecessary outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: A quality improvement initiative.

Objective: We aimed to decrease the use of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for patients admitted for bone and joint infections (BJIs) by applying a consensus protocol to suggest oral antibiotics for BJI. Design: A quasi-experimental before-and-after study. Setting: Inpatient setting at a single medical center. Patients: All inpatients admitted with a BJI. Methods: We developed a consensus table of oral antibiotics for BJI among infectious diseases (ID) specialists. Using the consensus table, we implemented a protocol consisting of a weekly reminder e-mail and case-based discussion with the consulting ID physician. Outcomes of patients during the implementation period (November 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021) were compared with those during the preimplementation period (January 1, 2019, to October 31, 2020). Our primary outcome was the proportion of patients treated with OPAT. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay (LOS) and recurrence or death within 6 months. Results: In total, 77 patients during the preimplementation period and 22 patients during the implementation period were identified to have a BJI. During the preimplementation period, 70.1% of patients received OPAT, whereas only 31.8% of patients had OPAT during the implementation period (P = .003). The median LOS after final ID recommendation was significantly shorter during the implementation period (median 3 days versus 1 day; P < .001). We detected no significant difference in the 6-month rate of recurrence (24.7% vs 31.8%; P = .46) or mortality (9.1% vs 9.1%; P = 1.00). Conclusions: More patients admitted with BJIs were treated with oral antibiotics during the implementation phase of our quality improvement initiative.

The Perioperative Pain Self-Management (PePS) randomized controlled trial protocol: Preventing chronic post-surgical pain and prolonged opioid use.

BACKGROUND: Total joint arthroplasties are common orthopedic surgeries that carry risk for developing chronic post-surgical pain. In addition to pre- and post-operative pain severity, psychological distress (e.g., anxiety, pain catastrophizing) is a risk factor for chronic postsurgical pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic pain is an empirically supported approach to managing chronic pain, functional impairment, and related distress. While CBT has been used extensively in patients with established chronic pain, using it as a preventive intervention targeting the transition from acute to chronic postsurgical pain is a novel application. OBJECTIVES: The Perioperative Pain Self-Management (PePS) program is a pain self-management intervention based on the principles of CBT. This innovative intervention is brief, flexible, and is delivered remotely. The current study aims to determine the efficacy of PePS compared to standard care on reducing the incidence of significant surgical site pain at 6-months post-surgery. The current study also aims to evaluate the context for subsequent implementation. METHODS: This study is a hybrid type I efficacy-preparing for implementation trial. It is a two-site, single-blind, two-arm, parallel, randomized control trial. Surgical patients will be randomized to either receive: 1) PePS plus standard care, or 2) Standard care. The primary end point will be surgical site pain severity at 6-months post-surgery. CONCLUSION: Results from this study are expected to result in support for a brief scalable intervention (PePS) that can prevent the development of chronic pain and prolonged post-surgical opioid use, as well as key details to inform subsequent implementation. CLINICALTRIALS: govIdentifier:NCT04979429.

Opioid prescribing patterns for acute pain.

PURPOSE: The current study aimed to identify patients presenting with acute pain who may be at risk for a complicated trajectory, via identifying clusters of early opioid prescribing patterns. METHODS: National Veterans Affairs administrative data were utilized to build a cohort of outpatients with acute pain presentations and no more than minimal opioid use in the prior year. Latent Class Analyses (LCAs) identified clusters of early opioid prescribing patterns. The risk of progression to long-term opioid use was contrasted between LCA clusters using log-binomial regression, adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: The 2018 cohort included N = 191,283. Among the 27,890 who received an initial opioid prescription, LCA classes were identified using: first supply day, total days dispensed across 30 days, opioid type, dose and number of prescriptions across the first 30 days. In the three-class model: class 1 indicated an immediate, low-dose and brief supply; class 2 included delayed, low-dose and longer duration prescriptions and class 3 included delayed, high-dose and moderate duration prescriptions. Adjusted relative risk ratios for progression to long-term opioid use in the following year were 3.33 (95% CI: 2.71-4.10) for class 1 (absolute risk 1.1%); 7.76 (95% CI: 6.69-8.99) for class 2 (3.1%) and 6.81 (95% CI: 5.72-8.12) for class 3 (2.4%) compared to patients who did not receive an acute opioid prescription (0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: These clusters of acute opioid prescribing could facilitate the identification of patients who may benefit from enhanced pain care earlier in the pain trajectory and decrease future reliance on long-term opioid therapy.

Risk of Acute Kidney Injury and Clostridioides difficile Infection With Piperacillin/Tazobactam, Cefepime, and Meropenem With or Without Vancomycin.

BACKGROUND: Empiric antimicrobial therapy for healthcare-acquired infections often includes vancomycin plus an anti-pseudomonal beta-lactam (AP-BL). These agents vary in risk for adverse events, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and Clostrioides difficile infection (CDI). Studies have only examined these risks separately; thus, our objective was to evaluate AKI and CDI risks simultaneously with AP-BL in the same patient cohort. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 789 200 Veterans Health Administration medical admissions from 1 July 2010 through 30 June 2016. The antimicrobials examined were vancomycin, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, and meropenem. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to contrast risks for AKI and CDI across individual target antimicrobials and vancomycin combination therapies, including adjustment for known confounders. RESULTS: With respect to the base rate of AKI among patients who did not receive a target antibiotic (4.6%), the adjusted hazards ratios for piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, and meropenem were 1.50 (95% CI: 1.43-1.54), 1.00 (.95-1.05), 0.92 (.83-1.01), respectively. Co-administration of vancomycin increased AKI rates (data not shown). Similarly, against the base rate of CDI (0.7%), these ratios were 1.21 (1.07-1.36), 1.89 (1.62-2.20), and 1.99 (1.55-2.56), respectively. Addition of vancomycin had minimal impact on CDI rates (data not shown). CONCLUSIONS: Piperacillin/tazobactam increased AKI risk, which was exacerbated by concurrent vancomycin. Cefepime and meropenem increased CDI risk relative to piperacillin/tazobactam. Clinicians should consider the risks and benefits of AP-BL when selecting empiric regimens. Further well-designed studies evaluating the global risks of AP-BL and patient specific characteristics that can guide empiric selection are needed.

A Typology of New Long-term Opioid Prescribing in the Veterans Health Administration.

BACKGROUND: Narrow definitions of long-term opioid (LTO) use result in limited knowledge of the full range of LTO prescribing patterns and the rates of these patterns. OBJECTIVE: To investigate a model of new LTO prescribing typologies using latent class analysis. DESIGN: National administrative data from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse were accessed using the VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure. Characterization of the typology of initial LTO prescribing was explored using latent class analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans initiating LTO during 2016 through the Veteran's Administration Healthcare System (N = 42,230). MAIN MEASURES: Opioid receipt as determined by VA prescription data, using the cabinet supply methodology. KEY RESULTS: Over one-quarter (27.7%) of the sample fell into the fragmented new long-term prescribing category, 39.8% were characterized by uniform daily new LTO, and the remaining 32.7% were characterized by uniform episodic LTO. Each of these three broad sub-groups also included two additional sub-groups (6 classes total in the model), characterized by the presence or absence of prior opioid prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: New LTO prescribing in the VA includes uniform daily prescribing, uniform episodic prescribing, and fragmented prescribing. Future work is needed to elucidate the safety and efficacy of these prescribing patterns.

Utility of accumulated opioid supply days and individual patient factors in predicting probability of transitioning to long-term opioid use: An observational study in the Veterans Health Administration.

Initial supply days dispensed to new users is strongly predictive of future long-term opioid use (LTO). The objective was to examine whether a model integrating additional clinical variables conferred meaningful improvement in predicting LTO, beyond a simple approach using only accumulated supply. Three cohorts were created using Veteran's Health Administration data based on accumulated supply days during the 90 days following opioid initiation: (a) <30 days, (b) ≥30 days, (c) ≥60 days. A base, unadjusted probability of subsequent LTO (days 91-365) was calculated for each cohort, along with an associated risk range based on midpoint values between cohorts. Within each cohort, log-binomial regression modeled the probability of subsequent LTO, using demographic, diagnostic, and medication characteristics. Each patient's LTO probability was determined using their individual characteristic values and model parameter estimates, where values falling outside the cohort's risk range were considered a clinically meaningful change in predictive value. Base probabilities for subsequent LTO and associated risk ranges by cohort were as follows: (a) 3.92% (0%-10.75%), (b) 17.59% (10.76%-28.05%), (c) 38.53% (28.06%-47.55%). The proportion of patients whose individual probability fell outside their cohort's risk range was as follows: 1.5%, 4.6%, and 9.2% for cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The strong relationship between accumulated supply days and future LTO offers an opportunity to leverage electronic healthcare records for decision support in preventing the initiation of inappropriate LTO through early intervention. More complex models are unlikely to meaningfully guide decision making beyond the single variable of accumulated supply days.

Using Lean Six Sigma to Improve Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates in a Veterans Affairs Rheumatology Clinic.

Pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Therefore, prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia by administering effective and well-tolerated vaccines is an important goal, especially in the immunocompromised patients who are at an increased risk of infections. At a large Midwestern Veterans Affairs Rheumatology Clinic, an internal audit revealed a baseline immunization rate of 3%. Through the Lean Six Sigma approach, the investigators sought to increase the rate to 70%. An interprofessional approach incorporating provider education, reinforcement at the point of care, and workflow simplification was sequentially implemented. Lean Six Sigma tools, including process mapping, voice of the customer, and statistical process control charts were utilized. These interventions increased the percentage of eligible patients receiving vaccinations from 3% (n = 19/687) to 23% (n = 11/48) and decreased the vaccine administration time from 15 to 7 minutes. No adverse reactions were reported. This was balanced by an increase in appointment time by 4 minutes in those who received vaccines. The Lean Six Sigma approach was critical to reducing waste and improving value for patients and providers by increasing pneumococcal vaccination rates among the immunocompromised veteran population in a Midwestern Veterans Affairs Rheumatology Clinic.

Regional and Rural-Urban Variation in Opioid Prescribing in the Veterans Health Administration.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid prescribing is heterogenous across the US, where 3- to 5-fold variation has been observed across states or other geographical units. Residents of rural areas appear to be at greater risk for opioid misuse, mortality, and high-risk prescribing. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides a unique setting for examining regional and rural-urban differences in opioid prescribing, as a complement and contrast to extant literature. The objective of this study was to characterize regional variation in opioid prescribing across Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and examine differences between rural and urban veterans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following IRB approval, this retrospective observational study used national administrative VHA data from 2016 to assess regional variation and rural-urban differences in schedule II opioid prescribing. The primary measure of opioid prescribing volume was morphine milligram equivalents (MME) dispensed per capita. Secondary measures included incidence, prevalence of any use, and prevalence of long-term use. RESULTS: Among 4,928,195 patients, national VHA per capita opioid utilization in 2016 was 1,038 MME. Utilization was lowest in the Northeast (894 MME), highest in the West (1,368 MME), and higher among rural (1,306 MME) than urban (988 MME) residents (p < 0.001). Most of the difference between rural and urban veterans (318 MME) was attributable to differences in long-term opioid use (312 MME), with similar rates of short-term use. CONCLUSION: There is substantial regional and rural-urban variation in opioid prescribing in VHA. Rural veterans receive over 30% more opioids than their urban counterparts. Further research is needed to identify and address underlying causes of these differences, which could include access barriers for non-pharmacologic treatments for chronic pain.

Impact of hydrocodone reclassification on analgesic prescribing in the Veterans Health Administration.

PURPOSE: The impact of hydrocodone reclassification on analgesic prescribing in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) was quantified. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, the volume of opioid medication dispensed was calculated quarterly from October 2011 to September 2015 using national VHA administrative data. Four volume measures were examined (prescription count, tablets dispensed, days' supply dispensed, and unique patients) for 4 opioid groups: hydrocodone combination products (HCPs), other opioid combination products, tramadol, and single-agent Schedule II opioids. HCP prescription count was further tabulated within longitudinal course of receipt groups: short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term. The initiation frequency of alternative analgesic pharmacotherapy, including opioid and nonopioid medications, was assessed among patients who discontinued long-term HCP receipt at reclassification. RESULTS: HCP prescriptions declined by 172,535 (19.4%) in the quarter after reclassification, whereas other opioid categories remained unchanged. The number of HCP prescriptions decreased by 10.7% among patients with short-term opioid receipt, and by 23.3% and 19.4% for intermediate- and long-term receipt groups, respectively. Among 13,416 individuals who discontinued receipt of long-term HCPs, replacement analgesics were not identified in 8,055 (60.0%) patients, whereas prescriptions for alternative opioids were observed in 3,557 (26.5%) and nonopioids in 2,753 (20.5%). CONCLUSION: HCP dispensing in VHA declined by 19.4% in the quarter after reclassification, which was driven largely by patients receiving long-term therapy. More than 13,000 veterans discontinued receipt of long-term HCP therapy after reclassification and the majority did not receive a replacement analgesic through VHA.

Patient Perspectives on Opioids: Views of Inpatient Veterans with Chronic Pain.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate perspectives on opioids and opioid use from hospitalized veterans with comorbid chronic pain using qualitative methods. DESIGN: This was an analysis of individual qualitative interviews. The semistructured interview guide was developed by a hospitalist with clinical expertise in pain treatment with guidance from a medical anthropologist. Interviews aimed to understand participants' experiences of chronic pain. SETTING: A Midwestern Veterans Health Administration inpatient hospital unit. SUBJECTS: Nineteen inpatient veterans with a history of chronic pain or antecedent opioid use. METHODS: Recently admitted veterans were screened for chronic pain diagnosis on admission and antecedent opioid use. Eligible veterans were approached to participate in an in-person interview during their hospitalization. RESULTS: The following themes were identified in relation to opioid use: other patients as the problem (by misusing opioids resulting in broad limits to opioid access), empathy for providers (perceived to be working under prescribing constraints), and opioids as a last resort. CONCLUSIONS: Although participants were not specifically questioned about opioid medications, discussion of opioids was prevalent in discussions of chronic pain. Findings suggest the potential utility of engaging hospitalized veterans in conversations about opioids and alternative pain management strategies.

Associations between initial opioid exposure and the likelihood for long-term use.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between initial opioid exposure and subsequent long-term use in 2 national Veterans Administration (VA) cohorts from 2011 and 2016, a period during which opioid prescribing declined. DESIGN: Two methodologies were used to determine the relationship between initial exposure and subsequent long-term use. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Incident opioid users during 2016 were identified using national VA administrative data. OUTCOME MEASURES: Relationships between days' supply, daily dose, and number of fills within the first 30 days and subsequent long-term opioid use were also examined. All analyses were repeated for an identically derived cohort during 2011. RESULTS: In 2016, 6.2% (method 1: Deyo replication) or 16.8% (method 2: Shah replication) of incident opioid users progressed to long-term opioid use. In 2011, 14.3% (method 1) or 29.2% (method 2) of incident users progressed to long-term use. Cumulative days' supply emerged as the strongest predictor in a multivariable model of long-term opioid use, which occurred in 1.5% of patients dispensed 7 days' supply or less and in 27.7% of patients dispensed greater than 30 days' supply. Results were similar in the 2011 cohort. Although the relationship between days' supply of incident opioid exposure and long-term opioid use remained consistent over time (in both 2011 and 2016), the overall rate of becoming a long-term opioid user decreased over time across levels of initial exposure. CONCLUSION: The findings confirm existing literature demonstrating a strong relationship between initial opioid exposure and future likelihood for long-term use. This valuable prognostic information could potentially be leveraged for intervention, including pharmacist-based approaches to prevent progression to long-term opioid use when it is unintended or clinically inappropriate.

Predictors of Long-Term Opioid Use After Opioid Initiation at Discharge From Medical and Surgical Hospitalizations.

Opioid analgesics may be initiated following surgical and medical hospitalization or in ambulatory settings; rates of subsequent long-term opioid (LTO) use have not been directly compared. This retrospective cohort study of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) included all patients receiving a new outpatient opioid prescription from a VHA provider in fiscal year 2011. If a new outpatient prescription was filled within 2 days following hospital discharge, the initiation was considered a discharge prescription. LTO use was defined as an episode of continuous opioid supply lasting a minimum of 90 days and beginning within 30 days of the initial prescription. We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses to identify the factors associated with LTO use following surgical and medical discharges. Following incident prescription, 5.3% of discharged surgical patients, 15.2% of discharged medical patients, and 19.3% of outpatient opioid initiators received opioids long term. Medical and surgical patients differed; surgical patients were more likely to receive shorter prescription durations. Predictors of LTO use were similar in medical and surgical patients; the most robust predictor in both groups was the number of days' supply of the initial prescription (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24 and 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.37 for 8-14 days; OR = 1.56 and 95% CI, 1.39-1.76 for 15-29 days; and OR = 2.59 and 95% CI, 2.35-2.86 for >30 days) compared with the reference group receiving =7days. Rates of subsequent LTO use are higher among discharged medical patients than among surgical patients. Characteristics of opioid prescribing within the initial 30 days, including initial dose and days prescribed, were strongly associated with LTO use.

Improving the Safety of Opioid Use for Acute Noncancer Pain in Hospitalized Adults: A Consensus Statement From the Society of Hospital Medicine.

Hospital-based clinicians frequently treat acute, noncancer pain. Although opioids may be beneficial in this setting, the benefits must be balanced with the risks of adverse events, including inadvertent overdose and prolonged opioid use, physical dependence, or development of opioid use disorder. In an era of epidemic opioid use and related harms, the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) convened a working group to develop a consensus statement on opioid use for adults hospitalized with acute, noncancer pain, outside of the palliative, end-of-life, and intensive care settings. The guidance is intended for clinicians practicing medicine in the inpatient setting (eg, hospitalists, primary care physicians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants). To develop the Consensus Statement, the working group conducted a systematic review of relevant guidelines, composed a draft Statement based on extracted recommendations, and obtained feedback from external experts in hospital-based opioid prescribing, SHM members, the SHM Patient-Family Advisory Council, other professional societies, and peer-reviewers. The iterative development process resulted in a final Consensus Statement consisting of 16 recommendations covering 1) whether to use opioids in the hospital, 2) how to improve the safety of opioid use during hospitalization, and 3) how to improve the safety of opioid prescribing at hospital discharge. As most guideline recommendations from which the Consensus Statement was derived were based on expert opinion alone, the working group identified key issues for future research to support evidence-based practice.