Stakeholder perspectives on a telemedicine referral and coordination model to expand medication treatment for opioid use disorder in rural primary care clinics

Abstract

Introduction: Opioid overdose deaths are increasing rapidly in the United States. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are effective and can be delivered in primary care, but uptake has been limited in rural communities. Referral to and coordination with an external telemedicine (TM) vendor by rural primary care clinics for MOUD (TM-MOUD) may increase MOUD access for rural patients, but we know little about perspectives on this model among key stakeholders. As part of a TM-MOUD feasibility study, we explored TM-MOUD acceptability and feasibility among personnel and patients from seven rural primary care clinics and a TM-MOUD vendor.

Methods: We conducted virtual interviews or focus groups with clinic administrators (n = 7 interviews), clinic primary care and behavioral health providers (8 groups, n = 30), other clinic staff (9 groups, n = 37), patients receiving MOUD (n = 16 interviews), TM-MOUD vendor staff (n = 4 interviews), and vendor-affiliated behavioral health and prescribing providers (n = 17 interviews). We asked about experiences with and acceptability of MOUD (primarily buprenorphine) and telemedicine (TM) and a TM-MOUD referral and coordination model. We conducted content analysis to identify themes and participants quantitatively rated acceptability of TM-MOUD elements on a 4-item scale.

Results: Perceived benefits of vendor-based TM-MOUD included reduced logistical barriers, more privacy and less stigma, and access to services not available locally (e.g., counseling, pain management). Barriers included lack of internet or poor connectivity in patients' homes, limited communication and trust between TM-MOUD and clinic providers, and questions about the value to the clinic of TM-MOUD referral to external vendor. Acceptability ratings for TM-MOUD were generally high; they were lowest among frontline staff.

Conclusions: Rural primary care clinic personnel, TM-MOUD vendor personnel, and patients generally perceived referral from primary care to a TM-MOUD vendor to hold potential for increasing access to MOUD in rural communities. Increasing TM-MOUD uptake requires buy-in and understanding among staff of the TM-MOUD workflow, TM services offered, requirements for patients, advantages over clinic-based or TM services from clinic providers, and identification of appropriate patients. Poverty, along with patient hesitation to initiate treatment, creates substantial barriers to MOUD treatment generally; insufficient internet availability creates a substantial barrier to TM-MOUD.

Keywords: Implementation; Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD); Opioid use disorder (OUD); Primary care; Rural health; Telemedicine (TM).

Fig. 1.

Clinic-based MOUD continuum of care and vendor-based TM-MOUD referral and coordination.

Fig. 2.

Acceptability ratings of MOUD and TM-MOUD: Clinic Administrators, Providers and Other Staff. Note. N (Administrators) = 5, N (Providers) = 24, N (Clinic Staff) = 33. Error bars indicate the 95 % confidence interval around each mean rating. OUD = opioid use disorder, MOUD = Medication for OUD, TM = telemedicine.

Fig. 3.

Acceptability ratings for the TM-MOUD referral and care coordination model: Vendor administrators, prescribing and behavioral health providers. Note. N (Administrator) = 4, N (prescribing provider) = 9, N (Behavioral Health) = 8. Error bars indicate the 95 % confidence interval around each mean. MOUD = Medication for opioid use disorder, TM = telemedicine.

Fig. 4.

Patient acceptability ratings for MOUD and TM-MOUD and willingness to try TM-MOUD. Note. N = 16. Error bars indicate the 95 % confidence interval around each mean rating. OUD = opioid use disorder, MOUD = Medication for OUD, TM = telemedicine.