Featured Publications
A Facility-Wide Plan to Increase Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care and General Mental Health Settings.
Spelman JF, Edens EL, Maya S, Moore BA, Boggs A, MacLean RR, Ackland P, Becker WC, Lynch D, Garcia-Vassallo M, Burgo AL, Rosen MI, Gordon AJ. A Facility-Wide Plan to Increase Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care and General Mental Health Settings. Federal Practitioner 2021, 38: 460-464. PMID: 34733066, PMCID: PMC8560103, DOI: 10.12788/fp.0186.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVeterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare SystemOpioid use disorderMOUD accessPrimary careTarget clinicsUse disordersGeneral mental health clinicsKey interventionsMental health clinicsMental health settingsGeneral mental health settingsHealth care practitionersQuality improvement effortsElectronic health recordsEligible patientsMOUD receiptPrescriber characteristicsBuprenorphine prescribersOpioid epidemicHealth clinicsMOUDCare practitionersHealth settingsNational VAElectronic consultation
2024
National Addiction Workshop: A Virtual Adaptation to Support Competency Development in Opioid Use Disorder Management.
Garcia-Vassallo G, Quinn N, Moore B, Chaudhry S, Moore D, Sorenson S, Braddock S, Edens E. National Addiction Workshop: A Virtual Adaptation to Support Competency Development in Opioid Use Disorder Management. Substance Use & Addiction Journal 2024, 29767342241273423. PMID: 39297293, DOI: 10.1177/29767342241273423.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSubstance use disordersHealthcare staffTraining healthcare staffSpecialty care teamsMental health settingsSmall-group case discussionsManagement of substance use disordersLong-term opioid therapyOpioid use disorder managementSubstance use disorder treatmentPost-workshop surveySkill-based trainingConditions amenable to treatmentCollaborative careInterprofessional workshopSkill-building exercisesPrimary careCare teamHealth settingsOverall confidence scorePatient panelHealthcare settingsStaff preparednessOpioid use disorderTeam simulation
2023
Increasing buprenorphine access for patients with chronic pain: a quality improvement initiative
Wesolowicz D, Spelman J, Edmond S, Schwartz A, Kravetz J, Edens E, Becker W. Increasing buprenorphine access for patients with chronic pain: a quality improvement initiative. Pain Medicine 2023, 25: 226-230. PMID: 37847654, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnad140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchQuality improvement initiativesSpecialty pain clinicPrimary care providersPrimary careChronic painPain clinicCare providersImprovement initiativesVeterans Health Administration healthcare systemFull agonist opioidsPrimary care clinicsNumber of patientsEligible patientsBuprenorphine prescribingCare clinicsPain careProvider comfortStandard operating proceduresBuprenorphine accessBuprenorphinePainPrescribingPatientsEducational sessionsClinic
2017
Evaluation of an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Program to Address Unsafe Use of Opioids Prescribed for Pain
Becker WC, Edmond SN, Cervone DJ, Manhapra A, Sellinger JJ, Moore BA, Edens EL. Evaluation of an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Program to Address Unsafe Use of Opioids Prescribed for Pain. Pain Medicine 2017, 19: 1419-1424. PMID: 28371816, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnx041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPreliminary efficacyUnsafe useSubstance abuse/dependenceMultidisciplinary care teamSubstance use disorder diagnosisPrimary care physiciansAdvanced practice nursesUrine drug testingLength of treatmentStructured clinical assessmentNurse case managersAbuse/dependenceHealth system levelHigh-complexity patientsElectronic progress notesOpioid prescribedOpioid receiptCare physiciansPractice nursesPrimary careCare coordinationCare teamClinical assessmentCare modelClinic processes
2016
Management of patients with issues related to opioid safety, efficacy and/or misuse: a case series from an integrated, interdisciplinary clinic
Becker WC, Merlin JS, Manhapra A, Edens EL. Management of patients with issues related to opioid safety, efficacy and/or misuse: a case series from an integrated, interdisciplinary clinic. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 2016, 11: 3. PMID: 26818474, PMCID: PMC4730605, DOI: 10.1186/s13722-016-0050-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic painOpioid safetyInterdisciplinary clinicClinical scenariosCo-occurring chronic painMultimodal pain careManagement of patientsOpioid use disorderTreatment of patientsLack of efficacySimilar clinical scenariosComplex clinical scenariosQuality of careHazardous alcohol useSubstance abuse treatmentOpioid treatmentBuprenorphine/Case seriesPain careMultimodal treatmentClinical equipoisePrimary careUse disordersPainPatients
2014
Integrating Interdisciplinary Pain Management into Primary Care: Development and Implementation of a Novel Clinical Program
Dorflinger LM, Ruser C, Sellinger J, Edens EL, Kerns RD, Becker WC. Integrating Interdisciplinary Pain Management into Primary Care: Development and Implementation of a Novel Clinical Program. Pain Medicine 2014, 15: 2046-2054. PMID: 25234837, DOI: 10.1111/pme.12554.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary careRapid Process Improvement WorkshopCare servicesCommunity-based outpatient clinicsInterdisciplinary pain programPain management resourcesSystems-level gapsInterdisciplinary pain managementVeterans Health AdministrationLarge healthcare systemSystems-based interventionsEvidence of safetyInterprofessional groupStudy-Act approachPain clinicPain managementPain programOutpatient clinicImproved outcomesInterdisciplinary clinicMedical CenterProvider satisfactionHealth AdministrationPDSA cyclesMisuse problems