Assessment of the utilization of real-time prescription benefits for patient cost savings within an outpatient setting.

Background: This study evaluates the impact of Real-Time Prescription Benefits (RTPB), a tool integrated into electronic health records (EHRs), on patient out-of-pocket costs in an academic institution. RTPB provides prescribers with alternative, less expensive medications based on insurance plans. The primary measure was cost-savings, defined as the difference between the out-of-pocket cost of the prescribed medication and its alternative.

Prescription Patterns of Adjuvant Pain Medications Following an Opioid Supply Restriction Law: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

Background: Florida House Bill 21 (HB21) was implemented in July 2018 to limit prescriptions of Schedule II opioids for acute pain patients, but it is unclear whether such restrictions have a collateral influence on the utilization of commonly prescribed adjuvant pain medications.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether this law was associated with a change in use patterns of gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants.

Methods: We obtained prescription claims for medications dispensed from January 1, 2015, to June 31, 2019, from a health plan serving a large Florida employer.

Chronic Opioid Therapy Utilization Following an Acute Pain Prescription Supply Restriction Law: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

Background: Florida House Bill 21 (HB21) was implemented in July 2018 to limit Schedule II opioids prescriptions for patients with acute pain to a 3-day supply. Little is known about the potential unintended effects that such opioid restriction policies may have on chronic pain patients, who are exempt from the law.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of HB21 on opioid utilization measures among a cohort of chronic opioid therapy (COT) patients.

The Adaptation of a Clinic-Adjacent Parking Garage for Drive-In COVID-19 Vaccination.

Purpose: The distribution and vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines to billions of people worldwide will likely be one of the biggest public health undertakings in history. There has been a large focus on identifying processes to safely, efficiently, and effectively vaccinate large populations. We aimed to describe the development and operationalization of a drive-in COVID-19 vaccine site in a parking garage adjacent to outpatient clinics at University of Florida (UF) Health Physicians and how it was informed by the roll-out of SARS-CoV-2 testing and administration of respiratory vaccinations.

Characteristics of Patients Using Different Patient Portal Functions and the Impact on Primary Care Service Utilization and Appointment Adherence: Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Patient portals are now widely available and increasingly adopted by patients and providers. Despite the growing research interest in patient portal adoption, there is a lack of follow-up studies describing the following: whether patients use portals actively; how frequently they use distinct portal functions; and, consequently, what the effects of using them are, the understanding of which is paramount to maximizing the potential of patient portals to enhance care delivery.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of primary care patients using different patient portal functions and the impact of various portal usage behaviors on patients' primary care service utilization and appointment adherence.

On the effect of electronic patient portal on primary care utilization and appointment adherence.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of patient portal adoption on patients' primary care utilization and appointment adherence.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using a panel difference-in-differences (DID) framework to investigate the use of primary care services by patients, adjusting for their disease burden and allowing for time-dependent portal effect. A large dataset with 46,544 patients of University of Florida (UF) Health during the study period July 2013 - June 2016 was used.

Factors in medical student beliefs about electronic health record use.

Healthcare providers' ongoing investment in electronic health records (EHRs) necessitates an understanding of physicians' expectations about using EHRs. Such understanding may aid educators and administrators when utilizing scarce resources during EHR training and implementation activities. This study aimed to link individual medical student characteristics to their perceptions of EHRs' ease of use and usefulness.

Grant award program partnerships with your professional liability insurance carrier: an innovative approach to loss prevention and improved patient safety.

The financial success of a malpractice insurance program is directly influenced by how effectively the covered providers respond to risk. This article describes a University Self-Insurance Program partnership to provide small grants to providers who have the expertise and passion for a specific risk reduction activity that is cost effective and measurable and has a high probability of improving patient care and reducing claims or lawsuits. Implementation of this small grant concept can be tailored to become operational in virtually any setting from an independent medical practice to a multistate healthcare system.

An academic-community cardiovascular service line affiliation: design, implementation, and performance.

Both affiliation with an academic medical center and implementation of service line management may be effective management strategies for community health care organizations. The authors describe the design, implementation, and performance of a unique combination of these two distinct strategies for cardiovascular program development in the affiliation of the University of Florida Health Science Center with Health First, a regional community-based integrated delivery system.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnostic considerations.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by the gradual progression of irreversible airflow obstruction and increased inflammation in the airways and lung parenchyma that is generally distinguishable from the inflammation caused by asthma. Most chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with smoking, but occupational exposure to irritants and air pollution also are important risk factors. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease typically present with coughing, sputum production, and dyspnea on exertion.