22nd Annual Pain Medicine Meeting 2023

Utilization and Impact of Pain Medication E-Consults at the Salem VA HCS
Melissa Truitt, PharmD1 ; Monica St. Jacques, PharmD, BCPS1 ; Brian Dezzutti, MD1 ; Tanvi Patil, PharmD, BCPS1 ; Rena E. Courtney, PhD1,2
1Salem Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 2Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Background

•51.6 million U.S. adults (20.9%) suffer from chronic pain and 17.1 million (6.9%) experienced high-impact chronic pain that interferes with at least one major life activity

•Veterans suffer at a higher intensity from chronic pain than the general population

•Rural veterans experience chronic pain and opioid prescriptions at higher rates than their urban counterparts

•Pharmacist-led medication reviews may optimize medication regimens for rural Veterans but utilization and effectiveness of this service is unknown.

Purpose

Evaluate the utilization and effectiveness of a Pain Medication E-Consult at a rural Appalachian VA during calendar year 2022.

Participants

•Included: 77 Veterans whose provider placed a pain medication e-consult at the Salem VA HCS between 01/01/2022 thru 01/06/2023.

•Excluded: Veterans who had a Pain Medication E-consult placed but then forwarded to another consult

Conclusion

•Most providers followed through with at least one recommendation made by the CPP regarding initiating, tapering, or discontinuing pain medications and half followed through with all recommendations made

•A significant percentage of consults were used inappropriately, prompting the need for more education to providers

•Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects the majority of the veteran population but pharmacists can play an important role in improving chronic pain management by offering tailored medication recommendations via e-consults, particularly in rural VA settings

22nd Annual Pain Medicine Meeting 2023

UTILIZATION AND IMPACT OF PAIN MEDICATION E-CONSULTS AT THE SALEM VA HCS

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