How Are Treatment Centers Handling COVID-19?

Presenter(s): Al Rundio, PhD, DNP, RN, APRN

Over the next few weeks, PCSS is conducting a series of special Clinical Roundtables to provide you with the information you need as you care for your patients with OUD during the COVID-19 epidemic. The goal of the PCSS Clinical Roundtable is to support interactions among addiction experts and health professionals through an informal “roundtable” conversation. We would like you to submit your questions in advance to facilitate discussion.

PCSS Exchange Session 6 – Implement and Sustain, Part 2

Presenter(s): Gavin Bart, MD, PhD; Terry Horton, MD and Kristin Wason, MSN, NP-C, CARN

Once we’ve successfully managed the organizational and clinical steps to initiate treatment for patients with OUD, we need to consider how to best sustain this new service and ensure continued access to high-quality care for our most challenging patients. This session will review long-term staffing structure and needs as buprenorphine (or other pharmacotherapies) become part of the treatment landscape in the community. The session will also review the challenges in delivering buprenorphine treatment to a range of patient populations, including those with comorbid mental health and/or physical health conditions, pregnant patients, those with co-occurring pain, and poor responders.

PCSS Exchange Session 5 – Implement and Sustain, Part 1

Presenter(s): Gavin Bart, MD, PhD; Melodie Isgro, MD and Annie Potter, MSN, MPH, NP, CARN-AP

After the organizational and clinical components of initiating OUD treatment have been mapped out, how do we begin effective implementation? This session will review steps for conducting a small pilot/demonstration buprenorphine project, with regular outcomes-monitoring to ensure a smooth scale up of treatment and care for patients with OUD. We will discuss approaches for utilizing leadership and staff check-ins to get a pulse on practices, scale up, and changes needed to ensure successful expansion across all administrative and clinical staff.

PCSS Exchange Session 4 – Prepare, Part 2

Presenter(s): Melodie Isgro, MD; Andrew Saxon, MD and Kristin Wason, MSN, NP-C, CARN

This session will map out concrete clinical and patient flow activities and consider issues of documentation, charting, and recommended metrics. We will discuss steps for conducting a site walk-through in advance to ensure behavioral health and prescriber staff have completed the necessary certifications and trainings to deliver buprenorphine, or other pharmacotherapies, in integrated settings. We will review the range of possible team players – clinic leadership, prescribers, nurses, counselors, clinicians, intake coordinators, receptionists, peer support specialists – and discuss the value of a shared vision and delineation of roles and tasks.