Key lessons in implementing a support program for patients with trauma after discharge
| Key lessons | Implications for a post-trauma hospitalization support program |
| Many patients do well after trauma discharge and their primary care providers may not need a post-trauma hospitalization intervention. | Identify higher risk patients for a post-trauma hospitalization discharge intervention. |
| It is not always clear to patients or to the primary care providers who is responsible for post-trauma care and opioid prescribing/taper. | Include clear contact information for who is responsible for opioid management and post-trauma hospitalization care on the discharge summary. |
| Opioid tapering instructions are not clear to many patients. | Provide clearer post-trauma hospitalization tapering instructions as part of discharge, including on the discharge summary. |
| Patients were easier to reach than primary care providers and were very receptive to contact with the PA. Patients appreciated additional support after a trauma hospitalization and raised issues beyond pain and opioid management. | Test a multilevel intervention directed at both patients and primary care providers. |
| Patients were actively using and receptive to non-opioid options for pain control after trauma hospitalization discharge. | Efforts to limit access to post-trauma opioids need to be matched by efforts to provide access to non-opioid options for pain control. |
PA, physician assistant.