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
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
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