Clinical Decision Support for Safety of Opioid Transitions

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of clinical decision support (CDS) alert to notify providers when the opioid prescription being written will result in the patient transitioning into a new phase of opioid therapy. The 2022 CDC clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain recommends providers reassess patient pain as well as the risks and benefits of opioid therapy before patients transition from acute to subacute treatment (1 month of opioid analgesics) and when patients transition from subacute to chronic opioid treatment (3 months). This study will evaluate a clinical decision support tool identifying patients who will be transitioning between phases as a result of an opioid prescription and suggest a review of patient pain and goals. Primary care providers will be randomized at the clinic location to a control arm or intervention arm. The control arm will not be notified that the prescription transitions the patient to a new phase but will have access to the same patient pain scales and information. The intervention arm will receive a notification of the transition and suggest review of patient needs and encourage documentation. Opioid transition orders and outcomes of patients will be examined based on medical records data collected during routine care.