Using Shared Medical Appointments to Increase Access to Buprenorphine Treatment.
BACKGROUND
This study examines patient experiences with shared medical appointments for buprenorphine treatment at a safety net primary care clinic.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional observational study of 28 participants in a primary care buprenorphine shared medical appointments program.


RESULTS
Participants reported appreciating the group visit format, gaining increased coping skills, and having more stable housing and less legal difficulty after starting the program.


CONCLUSIONS
The implementation of shared medical appointments for buprenorphine treatment benefits clinicians and patients. The nurse care manager and buprenorphine prescriber can efficiently attend to the clinical needs of multiple patients.
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA (DR); the Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA (MS, HH); and the Institute of Psychiatry & LIM-23, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (HH).
David
D
Roll
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA (DR); the Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA (MS, HH); and the Institute of Psychiatry & LIM-23, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (HH).
Margaret
M
Spottswood
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA (DR); the Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA (MS, HH); and the Institute of Psychiatry & LIM-23, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (HH). hhuang@cha.harvard.edu.
Hsiang
H
Huang
D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine
Drug Abuse; Patient-centered Care; Substance Abuse