Telemedicine increases access to buprenorphine initiation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Wang, Linda; Weiss, Jeffrey J.; Ryan, Elizabeth Bogel; Waldman, Justine; Rubin, Stacey; Griffin, Judy L.

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108272

Cited by 90 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…Although published narratives describe changes in OUD treatment delivery during the pandemic ( Buchheit, Wheelock, Lee, Brandt, & Gregg, 2021 ; Clark et al, 2021 ; Samuels et al, 2020 ; Wang et al, 2021 ), to our knowledge, only two manuscripts have reported patient outcomes ( Nordeck et al, 2020 ; Tofighi et al, 2021 ), and none have compared the full cascade of OUD treatment outcomes before versus during the pandemic. Of the two studies that examined patient outcomes, neither included patients who were referred to buprenorphine treatment but did not initiate care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of office-based buprenorphine treatment outcomes in Bronx community clinics before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cunningham

Khalid

Deng

et al. 2022

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of office-based buprenorphine treatment outcomes in Bronx community clinics before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cunningham

Khalid

Deng

et al. 2022

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

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“…First, expanded access to substance use disorder treatment needs to be facilitated, especially the delivery of services through innovative models of care to ensure minimal disruptions in treatment. Notably, telemedicine has facilitated low-barrier access to opioid pharmacotherapy with buprenorphine in the United States, as the federal regulatory changes enacted during the pandemic now permit clinicians to prescribe buprenorphine after conducting an initial visit using audio-visual or telephonic assessments rather than in-person assessments [ 31 ]. Removal of the in-person assessment requirement has resulted in rapid initiation of treatment, often including same day assessments, prescriptions and inductions [ 31 , 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on drug overdose-related deaths in the United States and Canada: a systematic review of observational studies and analysis of public health surveillance data

Imtiaz

Nafeh

Russell

et al. 2021

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy

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Background There are preliminary indications that the trajectory of drug overdose-related deaths in North America has been exacerbated due to the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). As such, the impact of COVID-19 on drug overdose-related deaths was examined through a systematic review of the literature and percentage change analyses of surveillance data. Methods Systematic searches in electronic databases were conducted, a topical issue brief and bibliography were reviewed, reference lists of included studies were searched and expert consultations were held to identify studies (Registration # CRD42021230223). Observational studies from the United States and Canada were eligible for inclusion if drug overdose-related deaths were assessed in quantitative or qualitative analyses onwards from at least March 2020. In addition, percentage changes comparing drug overdose-related deaths in the second annual quarter (Q2 2020 [April to June]) with the first annual quarter (Q1 2020 [January to March]) were generated using national and subnational data from public health surveillance systems and reports from jurisdictions in the United States and Canada. Results Nine studies were included in the systematic review, eight from the United States and one from Canada. The maximum outcome assessment period in the included studies extended until September 2020. Drug overdose-related deaths after the onset of COVID-19 were higher compared with the months leading up to the pandemic in 2020 and the comparative months in 2019. In additional percentage change analyses, drug overdose-related deaths increased by 2 to 60% in jurisdictions in the United States and by 58% in Canada when comparing Q2 2020 with Q1 2020. Conclusions Drug overdose-related deaths increased after the onset of COVID-19. The current situation necessitates a multi-pronged approach, encompassing expanded access to substance use disorder treatment, undisrupted access to harm reduction services, emphasis on risk reduction strategies, provision of a safe drug supply and decriminalization of drug use.

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“…For example, in fields like hepatology and gastroenterology, telemedicine usage increased by 4,000% ( 11 ). Although telemedicine and digital solutions cannot completely replace all components of the healthcare experience, there are some unique advantages, such as convenience of care, face-to-face interaction, and increased access to care, which was crucial for some medical fields like mental health services ( 12 , 13 ). Telemedicine and digital health solutions also increased access to healthcare among demographic groups that have historically low utilization of healthcare services.…”

Section: Advantages and Disadvantages Of Telemedicine In Chronic Disease Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing Healthcare Through Digital Health and Wellness Solutions to Meet the Needs of Patients With Chronic Disease During the COVID-19 Era

Seixas

Olaye

Wall

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated longstanding inefficiencies and deficiencies in chronic disease management and treatment in the United States, such as a fragmented healthcare experience and system, narrowly focused services, limited resources beyond office visits, expensive yet low quality care, and poor access to comprehensive prevention and non-pharmacological resources. It is feared that the addition of COVID-19 survivors to the pool of chronic disease patients will burden an already precarious healthcare system struggling to meet the needs of chronic disease patients. Digital health and telemedicine solutions, which exploded during the pandemic, may address many inefficiencies and deficiencies in chronic disease management, such as increasing access to care. However, these solutions are not panaceas as they are replete with several limitations, such as low uptake, poor engagement, and low long-term use. To fully optimize digital health and telemedicine solutions, we argue for the gamification of digital health and telemedicine solutions through a pantheoretical framework—one that uses personalized, contextualized, and behavioral science algorithms, data, evidence, and theories to ground treatments.

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Telemedicine increases access to buprenorphine initiation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 90 publications

References 12 publications

A comparison of office-based buprenorphine treatment outcomes in Bronx community clinics before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic

A comparison of office-based buprenorphine treatment outcomes in Bronx community clinics before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic

The impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on drug overdose-related deaths in the United States and Canada: a systematic review of observational studies and analysis of public health surveillance data

Optimizing Healthcare Through Digital Health and Wellness Solutions to Meet the Needs of Patients With Chronic Disease During the COVID-19 Era

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