Featured Publications
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 system
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
2022
Sexual Health Assessment Is Vital to Whole Health Models of Care
Uzdavines A, Helmer D, Spelman J, Mattocks K, Johnson A, Chardos J, Lynch K, Kauth M. Sexual Health Assessment Is Vital to Whole Health Models of Care. JMIRx Med 2022, 3: e36266. PMID: 37725523, PMCID: PMC10414374, DOI: 10.2196/36266.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSexual health assessmentVeterans Health AdministrationWhole Health modelHealth care systemElectronic health recordsSexual healthWhole healthOverall healthCare systemHealth modelHealth assessmentSexual concernsWhole Health approachEducational interventionPrimary care clinicsHealth education interventionHealth care providersPatients' sexual orientationAbsence of diseaseRoutine careCare clinicsPreventive careCare providersCare needsClinical practice
2021
Virtual Respiratory Urgent Clinics for COVID-19 Symptoms.
Brienza RS, Spelman JF, Hager K, Ruser C. Virtual Respiratory Urgent Clinics for COVID-19 Symptoms. Federal Practitioner 2021, 38: 402-405. PMID: 34737536, PMCID: PMC8562901, DOI: 10.12788/fp.0178.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVA Connecticut Healthcare SystemGoals of careCOVID-19 symptomsHealth care provider evaluationsQualitative chart reviewCharacteristics of patientsUrgent care clinicPrimary care sitesSubsequent emergency departmentHealth care workersHigh occupational riskVirtual care modelsCOVID-19 testingChart reviewIsolation precautionsCare clinicsDocumentation ratesEmergency departmentRoutine counselingVirtual careRetrospective analysisUrgent clinicCare sitesCare modelCare workers
2017
Group Visits for Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution in Primary Care: A Pilot Quality Improvement Initiative
Spelman JF, Peglow S, Schwartz AR, Burgo-Black L, McNamara K, Becker WC. Group Visits for Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution in Primary Care: A Pilot Quality Improvement Initiative. Pain Medicine 2017, 18: 2325-2330. PMID: 29045696, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnx243.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-risk patientsGroup visitsUsual carePrimary careNaloxone distributionOverdose educationLong-term opioid therapyMorphine equivalent daily dosePilot quality improvement initiativeQuality improvement pilot studyPrimary care clinicsChronic pain populationsPatient satisfaction scoresVeterans Health AdministrationQuality improvement interventionsQuality improvement initiativesPrescription of naloxoneOpioid therapyDaily doseCare clinicsChronic painPain populationNaloxone prescriptionsOpioid overdoseOverdose deaths