Scientific Poster Session III - Original Research

Original Research
  Monday, November 13, 2023
  01:00 PM–02:30 PM

Abstract

Introduction: Buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Patients in the emergency department (ED) can be initiated/continued on buprenorphine as a bridge to follow-up and given a ‘to-go’ pack. These to-go packs were implemented in ten EDs within a health system.

Research Question or Hypothesis: What is the buprenorphine prescription fill rate and return to ED rate for patients 30 days post-discharge after implementation of a buprenorphine to-go pack program?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive study (June 2022 to May 2023)

Methods: Adult patients discharged with a buprenorphine to-go pack from an ED within a major health system were included. Patients were excluded if they were admitted, transferred, incarcerated, or died in the ED. Data was extracted from the hospital electronic medical record, including patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and details of the ED visit. 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 in some form (prescription or to-go) previously. Of patients with data available at 30 days, 76/120 (63.3%) filled buprenorphine prescriptions and 38/116 (32.8%) returned to an ED within the health system for OUD withdrawal (15; 39.5%), non-OUD-related reasons (22; 57.9%), or overdose (1; 2.6%).

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.

Presenting Author

Abigail Robb PharmD Candidate
Duquesne University

Authors

Amanda Kearns BS, PharmD Candidate
Duquesne University

Michael Lynch MD
Univeristy of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Mercy

Benjamin Johnson PharmD Candidate
Duquesne University

Heather Metro BS, PharmD Candidate
Duquesne University

Courtney A Montepara PharmD, BCCP
Duquesne University

Branden D Nemecek PharmD, BCPS
Duquesne University

Jordan R Covvey PharmD, PhD, BCPS
Duquesne University

David E Zimmerman PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Duquesne University