Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a growing health crisis in the United States (US). Buprenorphine treatment for OUD has been found to improve outcomes and reduce mortality, although disparities in access to treatment and outcomes for OUD exist. Previous studies have shown that those retained in treatment for longer durations are more likely to [...]

Background: The placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) is increasingly performed primarily by vascular access nurses (VAN) in United States hospitals1. Despite the increased use of these specially trained clinicians, little is known about the patient and device characteristics of the PICCs they placed compared to those placed by interventional radiology (IR) providers. While [...]

Background: Timely, effective follow-up after hospital discharge can improve the efficiency and outcomes of care by increasing hospital throughput and decreasing readmissions and other adverse events after discharge. The University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) has chronic bed shortages and a medically and socially complex patient population that makes optimal management of post-discharge care especially [...]

Background: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are community-based primary care centers serving those in medically underserved areas (MUAs) regardless of barriers. Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) are often similarly located and serve as the population health manager for their local communities. AMCs, however, often struggle to deliver care to these communities in a financially sustainable way. [...]