Association between trajectories of buprenorphine treatment and emergency department and in-patient utilization.

Background And Aims: Uncertainty about optimal treatment duration for buprenorphine opioid agonist therapy may lead to substantial variation in provider and payer decision-making regarding treatment course. We aimed to identify distinct trajectories of buprenorphine use and examine outcomes associated with these trajectories to guide health system interventions regarding treatment length.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Patterns and Quality of Buprenorphine Opioid Agonist Treatment in a Large Medicaid Program.

Objectives: Use of buprenorphine - an effective treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs) - has increased rapidly in recent years and is often financed by Medicaid. We investigated predictors of buprenorphine treatment, patterns of care, and quality of care in a large state Medicaid program.

Methods: Data from Pennsylvania Medicaid from 2007 to 2012 provided information regarding diagnoses, demographic characteristics, enrollment, and use of inpatient and outpatient services, and prescription drugs.

Factors associated with the effectiveness of continuing education in long-term care.

Purpose: This article examines factors within the long-term-care work environment that impact the effectiveness of continuing education.

Design And Methods: In Study 1, focus group interviews were conducted with staff and management from urban and rural long-term-care facilities in southwestern Ontario to identify their perceptions of the workplace factors that affect transfer of learning into practice. Thirty-five people were interviewed across six focus groups.

A test of a centre's vision.

The Thames Valley Children's Centre, a regional Children's Rehabilitation Centre, was determined to assess the extent to which its Vision ("Our Clients at Their Best") was being achieved. With a sample of 50 former clients, and utilizing a specially constructed survey tool based on the important life outcomes literature, they found that they were attaining their vision for a significant proportion of the participants. They also learned about the differing expectations of the role which the Centre should play.