Featured Publications
Racial and Rural Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in a National Sample of Veterans
Bernstein E, DeRycke E, Han L, Bastian L, Bean-Mayberry B, Bade B, Brandt C, Farmer M, Crothers K, Skanderson M, Ruser C, Spelman J, Bazan I, Justice A, Rentsch C, Akgun K. Racial and Rural Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in a National Sample of Veterans. 2022, a3695-a3695. DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2022.205.1_meetingabstracts.a3695.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Practical Review of Suicide Among Veterans: Preventive and Proactive Measures for Health Care Institutions and Providers
Ruiz F, Burgo-Black L, Hunt SC, Miller M, Spelman JF. A Practical Review of Suicide Among Veterans: Preventive and Proactive Measures for Health Care Institutions and Providers. Public Health Reports 2022, 138: 223-231. PMID: 35403486, PMCID: PMC10031829, DOI: 10.1177/00333549221085240.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth care institutionsUS populationVeterans Affairs Healthcare SystemVeteran suicideCare institutionsGeneral US populationUnique health concernsHealth care providersPublic health approachBroader public health approachPrompt interventionRisk factorsRates of suicideCare providersGeneral populationRecognition of riskFemale veteransNarrative reviewHealth approachAdult suicideHealth concernVA systemHealth careHealthcare systemVeteransAddressing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Within a Large Healthcare System: a Population Health Model
Spelman JF, Kravetz JD, Bastian L, Ruser C. Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Within a Large Healthcare System: a Population Health Model. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2022, 37: 954-957. PMID: 35025069, PMCID: PMC8757394, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07353-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPopulation health approachLarge healthcare systemQuality improvement projectVaccine acceptanceHealth approachVeterans Health Administration systemCOVID-19 vaccine acceptanceEHR-based toolsMedical home teamsPrimary care providersPrimary care sitesHealthcare systemRate of vaccinationRegion 6 monthsSignificant public health threatHealth Administration systemPopulation health modelPublic health threatVaccine uptakeVaccination ratesCare sitesVaccine hesitancyCare providersEducation sessionsProgram EvaluationWeA 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 consultationA 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
2024
Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening via Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Testing in a Veterans Affairs Health System.
Xu J, Kravetz J, Spelman J, Roy K, Lilly V, Cosentino D, Ruser C. Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening via Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Testing in a Veterans Affairs Health System. Federal Practitioner 2024, 41: s39-s42. PMID: 39411394, PMCID: PMC11473113, DOI: 10.12788/fp.0496.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchColorectal cancer screening ratesFecal immunochemical test kitsCancer screening ratesVeterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare SystemFecal immunochemical testScreening ratesImmunochemical testPopulation-based colorectal cancer screening programImprove colorectal cancer screening ratesUS Multi-Society Task ForceFecal immunochemical test programsColorectal cancer screening programImprove colorectal cancer screeningMailed fecal immunochemical testMulti-Society Task ForceColorectal cancer screeningVeterans Affairs Health SystemCancer screening programCancer screeningHealth systemPatient visitsScreening programHealthcare systemTeam-basedTest utilization
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 sessionsClinicRacial, Ethnic, and Rural Disparities in U.S. Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine Rates
Bernstein E, DeRycke E, Han L, Farmer M, Bastian L, Bean-Mayberry B, Bade B, Brandt C, Crothers K, Skanderson M, Ruser C, Spelman J, Bazan I, Justice A, Rentsch C, Akgün K. Racial, Ethnic, and Rural Disparities in U.S. Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine Rates. AJPM Focus 2023, 2: 100094. PMID: 37362395, PMCID: PMC10038675, DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRace/ethnicity groupsFirst vaccinationFirst COVID-19 vaccinationVeterans AffairsWhite veteransCharlson Comorbidity IndexRetrospective cohort studyPrimary care visitsEthnicity groupsCOVID-19 vaccinationLarge healthcare systemEquitable vaccine distributionAsian Americans/Pacific IslandersRace/ethnicityUnvaccinated patientsComorbidity indexInfluenza vaccinationSelf-reported categoriesBlack groupCare visitsCohort studyHazard ratioPrimary outcomeWhite patientsBlack patients
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
2019
Medical marijuana for chronic pain: the good, the bad, and the hazy area in between
Spelman JF. Medical marijuana for chronic pain: the good, the bad, and the hazy area in between. Hartford Courant. Opinion/Op-Eds. July 7, 2019.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2018
Why every Connecticut home should have Naloxone
Spelman JF. Why every Connecticut home should have Naloxone. Hartford Courant. Opinion/Op-Eds. August 21, 2018.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
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
2016
Multi‐system complications of hypereosinophilia
Stahl M, Mohareb AM, Lee AI, Federman DG, Siddon AJ, Spelman J. Multi‐system complications of hypereosinophilia. American Journal Of Hematology 2016, 91: 444-447. PMID: 26700720, DOI: 10.1002/ajh.24283.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2012
Post Deployment Care for Returning Combat Veterans
Spelman JF, Hunt SC, Seal KH, Burgo-Black AL. Post Deployment Care for Returning Combat Veterans. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2012, 27: 1200-1209. PMID: 22648608, PMCID: PMC3514997, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-012-2061-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderHealth concernStress disorderCombat veteransLight of relationshipsMental health conditionsSocial functioningCommunity health care workersUnique health care needsCombat deploymentNon-VA providersChronic musculoskeletal painPrimary care providersLong-term health impactsHealth care workersPublic health burdenPsychosocial concernsVA health careImportant health concernHealth care needsSubstance abusePractical management guidelinesSleep disturbancesSocial healthMusculoskeletal pain