Effect of Multidisciplinary Transitional Pain Service on Health Care Use and Costs Following Orthopedic Surgery.

Background: Opioid use disorder is a significant cause of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. A transitional pain service (TPS) approach to perioperative pain management has been shown to reduce opioid use among patients undergoing orthopedic joint surgery. However, whether TPS also leads to lower health care use and costs is unknown. Methods: We designed this study to estimate the effect of TPS implementation relative to standard care on health care use and associated costs of care following orthopedic surgery. We evaluated postoperative health care use and costs for patients who underwent orthopedic joint surgery at 6 US Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs) between 2018 and 2019 using difference-in-differences analysis. Patients enrolled in the TPS at the Salt Lake City VAMC were matched to control patients undergoing the same surgeries at 5 different VAMCs without a TPS. We stratified patients based on history of preoperative opioid use into chronic opioid use (COU) and nonopioid use (NOU) groups and analyzed them separately. Results: For NOU patients, TPS was associated with a mean increase in the number of outpatient visits (6.9 visits; P < .001), no change in outpatient costs, and a mean decrease in inpatient costs (-$12,170; P = .02) during the 1-year follow-up period. TPS was not found to increase health care use or costs for COU patients. Conclusions: Although TPS led to an increase in outpatient visits for NOU patients, there was no increase in outpatient costs and a decrease in inpatient costs after orthopedic surgery. Further, there was no added cost for managing COU patients with a TPS. These findings suggest that TPS can be implemented to reduce opioid use following joint surgery without increasing health care costs.

Relationships between physical therapy intervention and opioid use: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize available evidence that has examined the relationship between physical therapy (PT) and opioid use. TYPE: Scoping Review LITERATURE SURVEY: Data sources including Google Scholar, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were searched for English articles up to October 24, 2019 using terms ("physical therapy"[Title/Abstract] OR physiotherapy[Title/Abstract] OR rehabilitation[Title/Abstract]) AND (opiate*[Title/Abstract] OR opioid*[Title/Abstract]). METHODOLOGY: Included studies evaluated a PT intervention and reported an opioid-use outcome. Data were extracted to describe the PT intervention, patient sample, opioid-use measurement, and results of any time or group comparisons. Study quality was evaluated with Joanna Briggs checklists based on study design. SYNTHESIS: Thirty studies were included that evaluated PT in at least one of these seven categories: interdisciplinary program (n = 8), modalities (n = 3), treatment (n = 3), utilization (n = 2), content (n = 3), timing (n = 13), and location (n = 2). Mixed results were reported for reduced opioid-use after interdisciplinary care and after PT modalities. Utilizing PT was associated with lower odds (ranging from 0.2-0.8) of using opioid medication for persons with low back pain (LBP) and injured workers; however, guideline-adherent care did not further reduce opioid use for persons with LBP. Early PT utilization after index visit for spine or joint pain and after orthopedic surgery was also associated with lower odds of using opioid medications (ranging from 0.27-0.93). Emergency department PT care was not associated with fewer opioid prescriptions than standard emergency department care. PT in a rehabilitation center after total knee replacement was not associated with lower opioid use than inpatient PT. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between timing of PT and opioid use was evaluated in 13 of 30 studies for a variety of patient populations. Eight of these 13 studies reported a relationship between early PT and reduced subsequent opioid use, making the largest sample of studies in this scoping review with supporting evidence. There is limited and inconclusive evidence to establish whether the content and/or location of PT interventions improves outcomes because of heterogeneity between studies.

Predictors of Adherence to Anti-Impulse Therapy among Patients Treated for Acute Type-B Aortic Dissections.

BACKGROUND: Medical management remains the mainstay of treatment for patients who present with acute Type-B aortic dissections (TBAD). However, it is unclear whether patients maintain adherence to their anti-impulse therapy medication regimen following hospital discharge. This study was designed to evaluate rates and predictors of medication adherence among insured patients treated for acute TBAD. METHODS: We used the Truven MarketScan database to identify US patients who presented with an acute TBAD between 2008 to 2017. Patients with continuous health insurance (Commercial or Medicare Part C) for at least 12 months after TBAD diagnosis were stratified by whether they underwent open surgical repair (OPEN), thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), or only medication management (MED). Prescriptions for anti-impulse therapy medications were captured and adherence was defined by the medication possession ratio as > 80% fill rate over the follow-up period. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to identify predictors for medication adherence. RESULTS: A total of 6,702 patients were identified that underwent treatment for TBAD (3% TEVAR, 9% OPEN, & 74% MED), whereas 14% received no intervention. The overall mean (±SD) rate of adherence to anti-impulse therapy was 72.6% ( ± 26), and varied based on type of TBAD intervention (73.4% TEVAR, 74.4% OPEN, & 72.4% MED). The majority of patients across all treatment groups were prescribed ≥ 2 agents, with beta-blockers and diuretics being the most common medication classes. The odds of adherence to anti-impulse therapy were significantly lower for patients who were female (OR: 0.93; 95%CI:0.85-0.99; P = 0.03), aged < 45 years (OR: 0.81; 95%CI:0.69-0.96; P < 0.001), nonadherent on preexisting therapy (OR: 0.81; 95%CI: 0.73-0.89; P < 0.001), and when medications were obtained in less than a 90 days supply from retail pharmacies. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly a quarter of patients were nonadherent with anti-impulse therapy prescribed following an acute TBAD, which was more likely among younger female patients not adherent before their event. Adherence was improved among patients who received their medications by mail and when a > 90 days supply was prescribed. These findings may be used by quality improvement initiatives to improve medication adherence following TBAD and help prevent further complications.

Pregnancy Risk Screening and Counseling for Women Veterans: Piloting the One Key Question in the Veterans Healthcare Administration.

OBJECTIVES: Women veterans have a high prevalence of comorbidities that increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Screening for pregnancy desires in primary care provider (PCP) visits offers an opportunity to optimize preconception health. This pilot quality improvement initiative sought to assess Veterans Healthcare Administration provider preferences on One Key Question (OKQ) implementation, identification of veterans' reproductive needs, and the effect of training on documentation in a women's primary care clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah. METHODS: We hosted OKQ training sessions for providers and staff, audio recorded group discussions on implementation barriers, and explored themes. Women veterans presenting for a PCP visit in July 2018 self-completed a paper OKQ screening tool. We calculated summary statistics on responses. We conducted a pre-post analysis, with respect to training sessions, to measure for changes in family planning documentation during PCP visits. RESULTS: Nineteen providers and staff completed the training. They acknowledged the importance, but believed that the screening tool should be completed by veterans and not be provider prompted. Forty-two women veterans completed the screening tool: 21% desired pregnancy in the next year and 26% desired contraceptive information. Chart reviews found a nonsignificant increase in current contraceptive method documentation between periods (20% vs 37%; P = 0.08), a decline in documentation of reproductive goals (22% vs 3%; P = 0.02), and no significant change in counseling. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans identify reproductive needs via the OKQ screening tool, but provider documentation did not reflect changes in care following training. Further study is necessary to develop an optimal, patient-centered tool and implementation plan to support women veterans in their reproductive goals.

Multidisciplinary Transitional Pain Service for the Veteran Population.

BACKGROUND: For patients with existing chronic opioid use or a history of substance use disorder, often little presurgical planning or postsurgical coordination of care among surgeons, primary care providers, or addiction care providers occurs. METHODS: In 2018, we developed the Transitional Pain Service (TPS) to identify at-risk patients as soon as they were indicated for surgery, to allow time for evaluation, education, and developing an individualized pain plan, and opioid taper prior to surgery if indicated. An electronic dashboard registry of surgical episodes provided data to TPS providers and included baseline history, morphine equivalent daily dose, and patient-reported pain outcomes, using measures from the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement System for pain intensity, pain interference, and physical function, and a pain-catastrophizing scale score. RESULTS: Two-hundred thirteen patients were enrolled between January and December 2018. Nearly all (99%) patients had ≥ 1 successful follow-up within 14 days after discharge; 96% had ≥ 1 follow-up between 14 and 30 days after surgery; and 72% had completed personal follow-up 90 days after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In 2018 the overall use of opioids after orthopedic surgery decreased by > 40% from the previous year. Despite this more restricted use of opioids, pain interference and physical function scores indicated that surgical patients do not seem to experience increased pain or reduced physical function.

Opioid use among veterans undergoing major joint surgery managed by a multidisciplinary transitional pain service.

BACKGROUND: Chronic postsurgical pain and opioid use is a problem among patients undergoing many types of surgical procedures. A multidisciplinary approach to perioperative pain management known as a transitional pain service (TPS) may lower these risks. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center to compare patients undergoing elective primary or revision total knee, hip, or shoulder replacement or rotator cuff repair in the year before (2017) and after (2018) implementation of a TPS. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients taking opioids 90 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include new chronic opioid use (COU) after surgery as well as the proportion of previous chronic opioid users who stopped or decreased opioid use after surgery. RESULTS: At 90 days after surgery, patients enrolled in TPS were significantly less likely to be taking opioids (13.4% TPS vs 27.3% pre-TPS; p=0.002). This relationship remained statistically significant in a multivariable logistic regression analysis, where the TPS group had 69% lower odds of postoperative COU compared with the preintervention group (OR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.66; p=0.03). Opioid-naive patients enrolled in TPS were less likely to have new COU after surgery (0.7% TPS vs 8.4% pre-TPS; p=0.004). Further, patients enrolled in TPS with existing COU prior to surgery were more likely to reduce or completely stop opioid use after surgery (67.5% TPS vs 45.3% pre-TPS; p=0.037) as compared with pre-TPS. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a TPS is an effective strategy for preventing new COU and reducing overall opioid use following orthopedic joint procedures in a Veterans Affairs hospital.

Apparent lack of cross-reactivity for infusion-related reactions between two forms of lipid-based amphotericin B.

PURPOSE: The case of a patient who experienced probable infusion-related reactions to amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) but tolerated continued amphotericin B therapy after a switch to an alternative lipid-based formulation is reported. SUMMARY: A 28-year-old immunocompromised man with pneumonia, respiratory failure, and neutropenic fever was initiated on ABLC and other antibiotics for suspected invasive aspergillosis. Due to the patient's deteriorating renal function, the use of amphotericin B was deemed preferable to the standard therapy for invasive aspergillosis (voriconazole) even though he had experienced likely infusion-related reactions to ABLC on two prior occasions. During the infusion of ABLC, significant increases in the man's temperature, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate were observed. Although those symptoms were suspected to be infusion related, it was decided that continuing amphotericin B therapy with an alternative lipid-based form of the drug was the best course of action. After the patient was switched to liposomal amphotericin B one day later, no further infusion-related adverse reactions were noted for the duration of therapy. While this case suggests that adverse reactions to one type of amphotericin B might not occur with the use of an alternative formulation, further research is needed to better define the potential for cross-reactivity among various forms of amphotericin B and related safe-infusion practices. CONCLUSION: A patient with invasive aspergillosis who experienced likely infusion- related reactions to ABLC was able to tolerate continued amphotericin B therapy after a switch to the liposomal formulation.

Clinical and economic evaluation of an evidence-based institutional epoetin-utilization management program.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is common in several patient populations, including those with chronic kidney disease, cancer, and HIV/AIDS, and may require treatment with erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs). Given the potential risks of the ESA, epoetin, and the significant costs associated with this agent, a large teaching medical institution developed a the drug-utilization management program using evidence-based guidelines on appropriate use. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the clinical and financial impact of the drug-utilization management program. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the medical institution that implemented the program using clinical pharmacists. Patients were included if epoetin was administered during their hospital stay (evaluation period, December 1, 2010, to December 31, 2011). The rate of inappropriate epoetin prescribing and the economic impact of guideline implementation were evaluated using comparisons of data from cohorts prescribed epoetin before and after guideline implementation. RESULTS: Data from 796 patients were included in the analyses (pre-implementation, 496; post-implementation, 300). The proportion of patients prescribed epoetin was significantly smaller after guideline implementation (2.4% vs 1.6%; P < 0.001). The reduction in the total number of epoetin units administered was 45%. The significant reduction (25%) in inappropriate prescribing after guideline implementation was primarily attributed to a 17% decrease in epoetin use in nonspecific anemia. The reduction in inappropriate epoetin prescribing translated into a 23.8% reduction in costs (P < 0.001) associated with inappropriate epoetin use. The estimated annual cost-savings of this program was $198,352 ($16,529/mo). CONCLUSION: The implementation of a drug-utilization management program using clinical pharmacists who evaluated epoetin was associated with a decrease in inappropriate epoetin prescribing and with significant cost-savings.