Coprescribing naloxone for patients on chronic opioid therapy: Lessons learned from a patient-safety initiative in primary care training sites

William Delaney, MD; Jessica Huff, MPH, MS; Sandra Mini, MD; Aiswarya Thomas, MD; Ralph Tremaglio, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2016.0353

Authors

William Delaney, MD
Jessica Huff, MPH, MS
Sandra Mini, MD
Aiswarya Thomas, MD
Ralph Tremaglio, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2016.0353

Keywords:

opioids, primary care, naloxone, overdose, patient safety

Abstract

Objective: To describe the development and implementation of a resident-led effort to increase coprescription of naloxone in a primary care setting.

Design: An exploratory, prospective pilot project to increase coprescription rates of naloxone.

Setting: Four primary care offices in western Connecticut serving as medical home training sites for primary care residents.

Patients, Participants: All patients on chronic opioid therapy.

Interventions: Over a 2-month period, eligible patients were identified and approached to receive a naloxone coprescription.

Main Outcome Measure: Rate of coprescriptions written.

Results: Three out of four training sites were able to increase coprescription rates, and 26 percent of eligible patients were able to have a prescription written.

Conclusions: Primary care practices, particularly primary care training sites, looking to implement a coprescription initiative should take several important factors into consideration during the planning stages, including naloxone availability and availability of the patient for naloxone education. More extensive research on best practices is needed.

Author Biographies

William Delaney, MD

College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

Jessica Huff, MPH, MS

Department of Research and Innovation, Western Connecticut Health Network, Danbury, Connecticut.

Sandra Mini, MD

College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.

Aiswarya Thomas, MD

College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

Ralph Tremaglio, MD

College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

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