Are opioid dependence and methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) documented in the medical record? A patient safety issue.
BACKGROUND
Opioid-dependent patients often have co-occurring chronic illnesses requiring medications that interact with methadone. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is typically provided separately from medical care. Hence, coordination of medical care and substance use treatment is important to preserve patient safety.


OBJECTIVE
To identify potential safety risks among MMT patients engaged in medical care by evaluating the frequency that opioid dependence and MMT documentation are missing in medical records and characterizing potential medication-methadone interactions.


METHODS
Among patients from a methadone clinic who received primary care from an affiliated, but separate, medical center, we reviewed electronic medical records for documentation of methadone, opioid dependence, and potential drug-methadone interactions. The proportions of medical records without opioid dependence and methadone documentation were estimated and potential medication-methadone interactions were identified.


RESULTS
Among the study subjects (n = 84), opioid dependence documentation was missing from the medical record in 30% (95% CI, 20%-41%) and MMT documentation was missing from either the last primary care note or the last hospital discharge summary in 11% (95% CI, 5%-19%). Sixty-nine percent of the study subjects had at least 1 medication that potentially interacted with methadone; 19% had 3 or more potentially interacting medications.


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients receiving MMT and medical care at different sites, documentation of opioid dependence and MMT in the medical record occurs for the majority, but is missing in a substantial number of patients. Most of these patients are prescribed medications that potentially interact with methadone. This study highlights opportunities for improved coordination between medical care and MMT.
Walley
Alexander Y
AY
Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA. awalley@bu.edu
Farrar
Danielle
D
Cheng
Debbie M
DM
Alford
Daniel P
DP
Samet
Jeffrey H
JH
D000328:Adult; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000592:standards; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D008691:Methadone