The use of buprenorphine to-go packs in the emergency department.
Am J Emerg Med
; 77: 154-157, 2024 03.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38150985
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Patients in the emergency department (ED) can be initiated or continued on buprenorphine as a bridge to follow-up in the outpatient setting, but gaps in care may arise. The objective was to evaluate the impact of buprenorphine to-go packs as a continuing treatment option for patients presenting to the ED with OUD across a health system.METHODS:
Adult patients discharged with a buprenorphine to-go pack from one of ten EDs within a major health system were included. The primary outcomes assessed within 30 days of ED discharge were (1) return to a health system ED, and (2) fill history of buprenorphine in the state prescription drug monitoring program database. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel (Redmond, WA).RESULTS:
A total of 124 patients received buprenorphine to-go packs. The sample was primarily male (79; 63.7%), white (89; 71.8%), on Medicaid (79; 63.7%), and had a mean age of 40.9 years. A total of 43 patients (34.7%) were initiated on buprenorphine for the first time, while 81 (65.3%) had received buprenorphine (prescription or to-go) previously. At 30 days post-visit, 76 (61.3%) had filled buprenorphine prescriptions, and 40 (32.3%) returned to an ED within the health system for opioid withdrawal (17; 42.5%), non-OUD-related reasons (22; 55%), or overdose (1; 2.5%).CONCLUSION:
The implementation of a system-wide buprenorphine to-go supply at ED discharge is a feasible option to provide continuity of care to patients with OUD.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Buprenorfina
/
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
País como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article