Telehealth versus in-person follow-up for buprenorphine after an emergency department visit
In Person vs Telehealth Opioid Use Disorder Treatment After Patients Leave the Emergency Department
This project will test whether arranging follow-up buprenorphine care by telehealth or by in-person clinics leads to better long-term treatment retention and patient experience for adults with opioid use disorder who start buprenorphine in the emergency department.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 528 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, Davis Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (El Centro, California and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06961058 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults who receive buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in one of three emergency departments will be referred to outpatient buprenorphine care either via telehealth (video/phone) or at an in-person clinic. Researchers will track whether patients successfully establish outpatient treatment, how long they remain on buprenorphine, and measures of patient experience over 1, 3, 6, and 9 months. Participants complete baseline and follow-up questionnaires and linkage to outpatient care is monitored. The study aims to compare the two referral approaches to understand which better supports long-term buprenorphine use after ED-initiated treatment.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults who receive buprenorphine in the emergency department, do not already have an outpatient buprenorphine clinic, can consent, and can complete follow-up in English or Spanish are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients already connected to an outpatient buprenorphine program, those living in institutions, or those unable to consent or complete follow-up in English or Spanish are unlikely to benefit from this referral comparison.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase long-term buprenorphine retention and reduce overdose risk by making outpatient care easier to access and stay in.
How similar studies have performed: Emergency-department initiation of buprenorphine is evidence-based and telehealth OUD treatment expanded after COVID-19 with promising access and retention results, but direct long-term comparisons of telehealth versus in-person referrals remain limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients who present to the emergency department and receive buprenorphine (either administered or prescribed) to treat OUD * do not have an established outpatient clinic where they will get buprenorphine when they leave the emergency department Exclusion Criteria: * inability to give consent * patients living in institutions (e.g., nursing homes, prisons) * unable to complete questionnaires in either English or Spanish
Where this trial is running
El Centro, California and 2 other locations
- El Centro Regional Medical Center Emergency Department — El Centro, California, United States (Recruiting)
- University of California Davis Emergency Department — Sacramento, California, United States (Recruiting)
- Olive View - UCLA Medical Center Emegency Department — Sylmar, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Aimee Moulin, MD MAS — University of California, Davis
- Study coordinator: Dominique Ritley, MPH
- Email: dritley@ucdavis.edu
- Phone: 916-734-7391
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.