November 15, 2021
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at U.S. Health & Human Services is launching a learning collaborative for primary care practices as part of it’s Management of Opioid Use and Misuse in Older Adults initiative. The goal is to support the implementation of high-leverage change strategies to improve the management of chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid misuse among older adults in primary care.
The learning collaborative is scheduled to start in December 2021 and will run for 15 months. By participating in this learning collaborative, practices will receive:
- Customized support and resources from national experts in selecting and implementing strategies to improve management of chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid misuse in older adults.
- Improved knowledge of the current evidence base and high-level change strategies related to the management of chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid misuse; an introductory webinar to orient participating organizations to the goals and activities of the program; monthly peer learning sessions and support from the project team between sessions; a community website for document sharing, threaded discussions, and other collaborative tools; a dedicated email address to which participating clinicians can send questions or request support from the project team.
- A $1,500 incentive per participating practice (not to exceed $6,000 per organization, if it comprised of multiple clinics).
- The foundation to continue best practices in opioid management and improve outcomes for older adult patients following participation in the learning collaborative.
- Opportunity to inform the final development of a resource, Strategies for Management of Opioid Use and Misuse in Older Adults in Primary Care Practices, which will be disseminated broadly to primary care practices and clinicians at the conclusion of the project.
Practices interested in learning more, including expectations for participating practices, can contact opioids_olderadults@abtassoc.com.