A program to help reduce opioid prescriptions after surgery for older adults
Official title: A hospital discharge opioid taper support intervention to improve post-operative opioid prescribing
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11077855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help older adults who have had orthopedic surgery by creating a personalized plan for safely reducing their use of opioids, with support from their healthcare team and follow-up calls to make sure they’re doing well.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $195,696 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DA055752-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who are undergoing orthopedic surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing surgery or are younger than 65 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve the way opioids are prescribed to older adults after surgery by implementing a new support intervention. It involves creating a personalized opioid tapering schedule for patients, which is integrated into the electronic health record system, along with automated prescriptions and follow-up support via phone. The study will involve healthcare providers and patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, collecting data on their experiences and outcomes to assess the effectiveness of this intervention. By focusing on older adults, the research seeks to minimize the risks associated with excessive opioid use during post-operative care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer opioid prescribing practices for older adults, reducing the risk of opioid-related harms.
How similar studies have gone: Similar interventions have shown promise in reducing opioid prescriptions, but this specific approach has not been rigorously tested before.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Groeger, Justina L — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Groeger, Justina L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Participatory system dynamics to improve PrEP access in the Bronx
A community-driven project in the Bronx will use system dynamics to identify practical ways to help people at risk for HIV start and stay on PrEP.
-
Collaborative research network program for advancements in health science
A NIH-funded multi-institution project aims to advance health science through coordinated research efforts over five years for potential patient benefits.
-
Collaborative NIH Initiative to Advance Health
A national team project aims to make progress in a broad health area with potential benefits for patients.
-
A decentralized, post-incarceration program to help people living with or at risk for HIV
A patient-facing program called DEST2nation aims to help people recently released from jail or prison stay on HIV treatment (ART) and prevention (PrEP) by coordinating care, housing, and support services through peers and community organizations.
-
Project-002: a patient-facing look at a multi-institution effort
A concise, patient-friendly overview of a multi-site NIH project that may explore new approaches to health care over several years.
-
Plug-and-play vaccine and antibody blueprints for emerging flu-like viruses
A multi-team NIH grant aims to create adaptable vaccine and antibody blueprints to rapidly respond to new enveloped RNA viruses in three families.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.