Background. Emergency medical services (EMS) agencies transport a significant majority of patients with low acuity and non-emergent conditions to local emergency departments (ED), affecting the entire care system's capacity performance. Opportunities exist for alternative models that integrate technology, telehealth, more appropriately aligned patient navigation. While limited number programs have evolved recently, no empirical evidence exists their efficacy. This research describes...

Objective There has been very little use of telehealth in pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS), yet the potential exists for this technology to transform current delivery model. In study, we explore costs and benefits one large EMS initiative. Methods Using a case-control study design both micro- gross-costing data from Houston Fire Department electronic patient care record system, conducted cost-benefit analysis (CBA) comparing with savings associated patients treated through...

With opioid-related deaths reaching epidemic levels, gaining a better understanding of access to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is critical. Most studies have focused on 1 side the equation-either provider capacity or patients' need care, as measured by overdose deaths. This study examines overlay between program availability and mortality, comparing accessibility region.Geospatial statistical analyses were used model OUD programs relative population density death incidence at state...

To combat the growing opioid epidemic, people who use drugs need access to medications for disorder (MOUD) as part of comprehensive treatment. Despite progress, treatment gaps remain. Our objective was a geospatial buffering model estimate buprenorphine providers nationally.Using provider location data from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) population estimates U.S. Census, we distance analyses percent are within reasonable (10, 30, 50 mile) driving distances...

Cognitive motivation theories contend that individuals have greater readiness for behavioral change during critical periods or life events, and a non-fatal overdose could represent such an event. The objective of this study was to examine if the use specialized mobile response team (assertive outreach) help identify, engage, retain people who survived into comprehensive treatment program. We developed intervention, consisting outreach followed by medication treatment, in Houston Texas...

Meditation and mindfulness practices offer promising non-pharmacological alternatives for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to improve their health well-being, but integrating such into daily routines can be challenging. This survey study aims identify motivators barriers engagement meditation interventions among SCI. A cross-sectional was conducted adults SCI (N = 94) from a single large acute rehabilitation center in the United States. Results showed strong interest SCI, nearly...

Background: Chronic pain affects over 25% of U.S. adults and is a leading cause disability. Mindfulness meditation (MM) nonpharmacologic approach to manage improve well-being. Despite mounting evidence supporting its efficacy, MM remains underutilized in medical practice. Understanding physicians’ engagement with the barriers they face can inform strategies for integration into clinical care. This study assessed attitudes toward MM, including practice their likelihood recommending it...

Background: Health-related programs frequently integrate interprofessional education (IPE) into their training. The COVID-19 pandemic transitioned many IPE online, making it essential to assess student expectations and perceived learning outcomes across virtual simulations in-person settings. Methods: This qualitative study compared self-reported case scenarios at a Texas health science center. Responses open-ended questions from two data collection periods were analyzed using inductive...

Abstract Objective The opioid epidemic continues to escalate, and out‐of‐hospital emergency medical services (EMS) play a vital role in acute overdose reversal, but could serve broader post‐incident for follow‐up, outreach, referrals. Our objective is identify the scope prevalence of community‐based, post‐opioid EMS programs across United States. Methods We used narrative review prior studies PubMed Scopus last 20 years (1999–2020) relevant literature web search gray interventions involving...

Introduction: Telehealth has been used nominally for trauma, neurological, and cardiovascular incidents in prehospital emergency medical services (EMS). Yet, much less is known about the use of telehealth low-acuity primary care. We examine development one program its impact on unnecessary ambulance transports. Objective: The objective this study to describe a large-scale Methods: patient characteristics results from cohort patients Houston, Texas who received consultation an medicine...

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted hospital operations. Anecdotal evidence suggests financial performance likewise suffered, yet little empirical research supports this claim. This study aimed to explore the impact of on most prominent academic hospitals in United States. Data from 115 largest major teaching States were extracted American Hospital Directory for three years (2019-2021). We hypothesized that year and region would moderate relationship between a hospital's return assets (financial...

Mortality from overdoses involving opioids in the United States (U.S.) has reached epidemic proportions. More research is needed to examine underlying factors contributing opioid-related mortality regionally. This study's objective was identify and county-level most closely associated with overdose deaths across all counties U.S.Methods: Using a national cross-sectional ecological study design, we analyzed relationships between 17 characteristics four categories (i.e. socio-economic,...

Fatalities from drug-induced overdoses in the United States have taken greater than 292,000 lives last five years, and nearly two-thirds of these are opioid-related. The burden on prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) to respond incidents is growing. standard care typically involves overdose reversal rapid transport, although a few agencies begun use community paramedicine more proactively follow-up, initiate treatment, refer patients addiction medicine providers. Methods: In this...

An increase in opioid use has led to an crisis during the last decade, leading declarations of a public health emergency. In response this call, Houston Emergency Opioid Engagement System (HEROES) was established and created emergency access pathway into long-term recovery for individuals with disorder. A major contributor success program is retention enrolled program.We have identified dropout from after 90 120 days. Based on more than 700 participants, we developed machine learning...

Opioid use disorder has recently been declared a public health emergency, yet it is unknown whether opioid prescribing patterns have changed over time. Our objective to examine behavior and overdose fatalities in one large state prior state-mandated usage of prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). Methods: We relied on de-identified longitudinal data from national databases for prescriptions deaths Texas between 2013 2017. Descriptive statistics trend analyses were used assess...