Implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of the IDEA syringe services program medical student-run free clinic in Miami, Florida. In an effort to continue to serve the community of people who inject drugs and practice compassionate and non-judgmental care, the students transitione...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-020-00438-4 |
| _version_ | 1818554825114124288 |
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| author | Marcus Castillo Brianna Conte Sam Hinkes Megan Mathew C. J. Na Ainhoa Norindr David P. Serota David W. Forrest Amar R. Deshpande Tyler S. Bartholomew Hansel E. Tookes |
| author_facet | Marcus Castillo Brianna Conte Sam Hinkes Megan Mathew C. J. Na Ainhoa Norindr David P. Serota David W. Forrest Amar R. Deshpande Tyler S. Bartholomew Hansel E. Tookes |
| author_sort | Marcus Castillo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of the IDEA syringe services program medical student-run free clinic in Miami, Florida. In an effort to continue to serve the community of people who inject drugs and practice compassionate and non-judgmental care, the students transitioned the clinic to a model of TeleMOUD (medications for opioid use disorder). We describe development and implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine clinic through an academic medical center-operated syringe services program. Methods Students advertised TeleMOUD services at the syringe service program on social media and created an online sign-up form. They coordinated appointments and interviewed patients by phone or videoconference where they assessed patients for opioid use disorder. Supervising attending physicians also interviewed patients and prescribed buprenorphine when appropriate. Students assisted patients in obtaining medication from the pharmacy and provided support and guidance during home buprenorphine induction. Results Over the first 9 weeks in operation, 31 appointments were requested, and 22 initial telehealth appointments were completed by a team of students and attending physicians. Fifteen appointments were for MOUD and 7 for other health issues. All patients seeking MOUD were prescribed buprenorphine and 12/15 successfully picked up medications from the pharmacy. The mean time between appointment request and prescription pick-up was 9.5 days. Conclusions TeleMOUD is feasible and successful in providing people who inject drugs with low barrier access to life-saving MOUD during the COVID-19 pandemic. This model also provided medical students with experience treating addiction during a time when they were restricted from most clinical activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:45:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d5280b26ace4d6ea1e00ba7a281f07a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:45:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d5280b26ace4d6ea1e00ba7a281f07a2022-12-22T00:28:25ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172020-11-011711610.1186/s12954-020-00438-4Implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemicMarcus Castillo0Brianna Conte1Sam Hinkes2Megan Mathew3C. J. Na4Ainhoa Norindr5David P. Serota6David W. Forrest7Amar R. Deshpande8Tyler S. Bartholomew9Hansel E. Tookes10Department of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of MiamiDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineAbstract Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of the IDEA syringe services program medical student-run free clinic in Miami, Florida. In an effort to continue to serve the community of people who inject drugs and practice compassionate and non-judgmental care, the students transitioned the clinic to a model of TeleMOUD (medications for opioid use disorder). We describe development and implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine clinic through an academic medical center-operated syringe services program. Methods Students advertised TeleMOUD services at the syringe service program on social media and created an online sign-up form. They coordinated appointments and interviewed patients by phone or videoconference where they assessed patients for opioid use disorder. Supervising attending physicians also interviewed patients and prescribed buprenorphine when appropriate. Students assisted patients in obtaining medication from the pharmacy and provided support and guidance during home buprenorphine induction. Results Over the first 9 weeks in operation, 31 appointments were requested, and 22 initial telehealth appointments were completed by a team of students and attending physicians. Fifteen appointments were for MOUD and 7 for other health issues. All patients seeking MOUD were prescribed buprenorphine and 12/15 successfully picked up medications from the pharmacy. The mean time between appointment request and prescription pick-up was 9.5 days. Conclusions TeleMOUD is feasible and successful in providing people who inject drugs with low barrier access to life-saving MOUD during the COVID-19 pandemic. This model also provided medical students with experience treating addiction during a time when they were restricted from most clinical activities.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-020-00438-4COVID-19TelehealthMedications for opioid use disorderStudent-run clinic |
| spellingShingle | Marcus Castillo Brianna Conte Sam Hinkes Megan Mathew C. J. Na Ainhoa Norindr David P. Serota David W. Forrest Amar R. Deshpande Tyler S. Bartholomew Hansel E. Tookes Implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic Harm Reduction Journal COVID-19 Telehealth Medications for opioid use disorder Student-run clinic |
| title | Implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | implementation of a medical student run telemedicine program for medications for opioid use disorder during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 Telehealth Medications for opioid use disorder Student-run clinic |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-020-00438-4 |
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