A Telemedicine Buprenorphine Clinic to Serve New York City: Initial Evaluation of the NYC Public Hospital System's Initiative to Expand Treatment Access During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
J Addict Med
; 16(1): e40-e43, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1072432
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and clinical impact of telemedicine-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine-naloxone following the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.METHODS:
Participants included in this retrospective analysis consisted of adult New York City residents with opioid use disorder eligible for enrollment in the NYC Health+Hospitals Virtual Buprenorphine Clinic between March and May 2020 (nâ=â78). Follow-up data were comprised of rates of retention in treatment at 2 months, referrals to community treatment, and induction-related events.RESULTS:
During the initial 9 weeks of clinic operations, the clinic inducted 78 patients on to buprenorphine-naloxone and completed 252 visits. Patient referrals included non-NYC Health + Hospitals (nâ=â22, 28.2%) and NYC Health + Hospitals healthcare providers (nâ=â17, 21.8%), homeless shelter staff (nâ=â13, 16.7%), and the NYC Health + Hospitals jail reentry program in Rikers Island (nâ=â11, 14.1%). At 8 weeks, 42 patients remained in care (53.8%), 21 were referred to a community treatment program (26.9%), and 15 were lost to follow-up (19.2%). No patients were terminated from care due to disruptive behavior or suspicions of diversion or misuse of Buprenorphine. Adverse clinical outcomes were uncommon and included persistent withdrawal symptoms (nâ=â8, 4.3%) and one nonfatal opioid overdose (0.5%).CONCLUSIONS:
Telemedicine-based opioid treatment and unobserved home induction on buprenorphine-naloxone offers a safe and feasible approach to expand the reach of opioid use disorder treatment, primary care, and behavioral health for a highly vulnerable urban population during an unprecedented natural disaster.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Buprenorphine
/
Telemedicine
/
COVID-19
/
Opioid-Related Disorders
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
J Addict Med
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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