2020
A Model for Rapid Transition to Virtual Care, VA Connecticut Primary Care Response to COVID-19
Spelman JF, Brienza R, Walsh RF, Drost P, Schwartz AR, Kravetz JD, Pitkin P, Ruser C. A Model for Rapid Transition to Virtual Care, VA Connecticut Primary Care Response to COVID-19. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2020, 35: 3073-3076. PMID: 32705471, PMCID: PMC7377306, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-06041-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUrgent care clinicVirtual careVA Connecticut Health Care SystemCare clinicsPerson visitsValuable health care resourcesPrimary care responseStandardized note templatesFuture pandemic responsesVirtual care modelsHealth care resourcesCOVID-19 pandemicHealth care deliveryHealth care systemVideo visitsTelephone encountersCare modelCare responseCare resourcesPatient exposureCare deliveryNote templateVirtual visitsMedical staffCare systemCase-mix for assessing primary care value (CPCV)
Gao J, Moran E, Schwartz A, Ruser C. Case-mix for assessing primary care value (CPCV). Health Services Management Research 2020, 33: 200-206. PMID: 32552065, DOI: 10.1177/0951484820931063.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary careU.S. Veterans Affairs healthcare systemVeterans Affairs Healthcare SystemPrescription drug classesPrimary care performanceHigh-cost patientsPatient classification systemPC visitsPatient comorbiditiesDrug classesRisk scoreProvider workloadRisk algorithmHealth systemCare performanceHealthcare systemCare valuePatientsStaffing levelsPayment ratesCareHigh needClassification systemComorbidities
2019
Sequelae of an Evidence-based Approach to Management for Access to Care in the Veterans Health Administration
Kaboli PJ, Miake-Lye IM, Ruser C, Yano EM, Orshansky G, Rubenstein L, Curtis I, Kirsh S, Hempel S. Sequelae of an Evidence-based Approach to Management for Access to Care in the Veterans Health Administration. Medical Care 2019, 57: s213-s220. PMID: 31517790, PMCID: PMC6750154, DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001177.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEvidence-based approachVeterans AffairsPrimary care managementVeterans Health AdministrationHigh-quality careHealth care systemResearch evidenceVA initiativesPrimary careCare managementEvidence reportHealth AdministrationPeer-reviewed manuscriptsQuality careCare systemPanel meetingHealth careCareProgram reportsPractice managersKey conferencesReportStakeholder panelPractice implicationsUnanswered questions
2018
Opioid Use Among Veterans of Recent Wars Receiving Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Care
Lisi AJ, Corcoran KL, DeRycke EC, Bastian LA, Becker WC, Edmond SN, Goertz CM, Goulet JL, Haskell SG, Higgins DM, Kawecki T, Kerns RD, Mattocks K, Ramsey C, Ruser CB, Brandt CA. Opioid Use Among Veterans of Recent Wars Receiving Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Care. Pain Medicine 2018, 19: s54-s60. PMID: 30203014, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOEF/OIF/OND veteransOpioid prescriptionsChiropractic visitsOpioid useChiropractic careOperations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New DawnMore opioid prescriptionsVA chiropractic servicesPercentage of veteransCross-sectional analysisOpioid receiptClinic visitsClinical characteristicsCurrent smokingSevere painChiropractic clinicChiropractic servicesVisitsHigher likelihoodVeteransPrescriptionCareFurther studiesAdministrative dataOne-thirdProject STEP: Implementing the Veterans Health Administration’s Stepped Care Model of Pain Management
Edmond SN, Moore BA, Dorflinger LM, Goulet JL, Becker WC, Heapy AA, Sellinger JJ, Lee AW, Levin FL, Ruser CB, Kerns RD. Project STEP: Implementing the Veterans Health Administration’s Stepped Care Model of Pain Management. Pain Medicine 2018, 19: s30-s37. PMID: 30203015, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVA Connecticut Healthcare SystemPrimary care providersVeterans Health AdministrationPain careStepped care modelCare providersPain managementCare modelHealth care utilization dataMultimodal pain careNonopioid analgesic prescribingLong-term opioidsElectronic health record dataPain intensity ratingsHealth record dataClinical health psychologyNonpharmacological servicesAnalgesic prescribingOpioid prescribingPharmacological managementNonpharmacological approachesNonpharmacological treatmentsReferral practicesPhysical therapyCare practicesPain and modifiable risk factors among weight loss seeking Veterans with overweight
Godfrey KM, Bullock AJ, Dorflinger LM, Min KM, Ruser CB, Masheb RM. Pain and modifiable risk factors among weight loss seeking Veterans with overweight. Appetite 2018, 128: 100-105. PMID: 29885382, DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.06.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexWeight loss treatmentMental health symptomsModifiable risk factorsHigher pain intensityPain intensityLoss treatmentHealth symptomsRisk factorsAverage body mass indexBehavioral weight loss treatmentSelf-reported pain ratingsOverweight/obesitySample of veteransElectronic medical recordsVA ConnecticutClinical characteristicsSevere painChronic painMass indexOutpatient clinicPain ratingsMedical recordsNight eatingSelf-report questionnaires
2017
Modifying the Primary Care Exception Rule to Require Competency-Based Assessment
Tobin DG, Doolittle BR, Ellman MS, Ruser CB, Brienza RS, Genao I. Modifying the Primary Care Exception Rule to Require Competency-Based Assessment. Academic Medicine 2017, 92: 331-334. PMID: 27355783, DOI: 10.1097/acm.0000000000001293.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsPrimary care practicesResident competenceClinical competenceGraduate Medical EducationResidents' clinical competenceMonths of trainingAmbulatory careCare practicesMedicaid ServicesExamination roomCarePhysiciansBilling requirementsTraining programMilestones frameworkBilling rulesResidents' readinessResidentsTeaching residents
2016
Stepped care model of pain management and quality of pain care in long-term opioid therapy
Moore BA, Anderson D, Dorflinger L, Zlateva I, Lee A, Gilliam W, Tian T, Khatri K, Ruser CB, Kerns RD. Stepped care model of pain management and quality of pain care in long-term opioid therapy. The Journal Of Rehabilitation Research And Development 2016, 53: 137-146. PMID: 27006068, DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2014.10.0254.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPrevalence and correlates of painful conditions and multimorbidity in national sample of overweight/obese Veterans
Higgins DM, Buta E, Dorflinger L, Masheb RM, Ruser CB, Goulet JL, Heapy AA. Prevalence and correlates of painful conditions and multimorbidity in national sample of overweight/obese Veterans. The Journal Of Rehabilitation Research And Development 2016, 53: 71-82. PMID: 26933823, DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2014.10.0251.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsArthritis/joint painOverweight/obese veteransJoint painPainful conditionsObese veteransHigher oddsVeterans Health Administration (VHA) careHigher body mass indexPrevalent public health concernCommon painful conditionNumber of comorbiditiesOverweight/obesityBody mass indexWeight management programPublic health concernMultiple comorbiditiesMultivariable adjustmentChronic painMass indexClinical managementMultinomial logistic regressionPainFemale veteransReference categoryComorbidities
2015
Implementing the patient-centered medical home in residency education
Doolittle BR, Tobin D, Genao I, Ellman M, Ruser C, Brienza R. Implementing the patient-centered medical home in residency education. Education For Health 2015, 28: 74-78. PMID: 26261119, DOI: 10.4103/1357-6283.161916.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPatient-centered medical home (PCMH) modelPatient-centered medical homeEmergency room visitsMid-level providersHealth care personnelMedical home modelTeam-based approachThird-party payersRoom visitsPrimary careMedical homePhysician training programsCare personnelEfficient carePhysician groupsHome modelParty payersGraduate Medical EducationAccreditation CouncilCare
2014
Psychometric properties of a MOVE!23 subscale: Perceived Contributors to Weight Change in a national sample of veterans
Higgins DM, Buta E, Dorflinger L, Heapy AA, Ruser CB, Goulet JL, Masheb RM. Psychometric properties of a MOVE!23 subscale: Perceived Contributors to Weight Change in a national sample of veterans. Journal Of Health Psychology 2014, 21: 1394-1403. PMID: 25293969, DOI: 10.1177/1359105314554530.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2013
Binge eating behavior among a national sample of overweight and obese veterans
Higgins DM, Dorflinger L, MacGregor KL, Heapy AA, Goulet JL, Ruser C. Binge eating behavior among a national sample of overweight and obese veterans. Obesity 2013, 21: 900-903. PMID: 23784891, DOI: 10.1002/oby.20160.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsType 2 diabetesObese veteransVeterans Health Administration facilitiesMedical clinic visitsMental health comorbiditiesWeight management programLogistic regression analysisUS military veteransSelf-reported bingeSecondary data analysis approachClinic visitsHealth comorbiditiesHigher BMIPsychiatric comorbidityHigh prevalenceWeight historyMale veteransFemale veteransAdministration facilitiesBingeMilitary veteransVeteransComorbiditiesOverweightDiabetes