627. Tele-OPAT Outcomes at Two Community Hospitals

Abstract

BackgroundOutpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is well-established for the care of patients requiring IV antibiotics after hospital discharge but little is known about the effectiveness of OPAT delivered through telemedicine.1-3 We therefore investigated outcomes from telemedicine OPAT services (Tele-OPAT) at two community hospitals.MethodsData was collected from two community hospitals in the UPMC system for which both inpatient and outpatient telemedicine ID services (Tele-ID), including Tele-OPAT services, are provided. Tele-ID services at Site 1 (171 beds) began in January 2014 and at Site 2 (133 beds) in January 2018. All patients had inpatient Tele-ID consults via live audio-video (AV) visits or EHR review. After discharge, patients were managed by a Tele-OPAT team consisting of an ID pharmacist, RN and ID physician. Live AV Tele-OPAT outpatient follow-up visits were conducted with the assistance of a tele-presenter at 2 clinic sites.ResultsA total of 489 unique patients with 536 encounters were evaluated. Site 1 accounted for 284 patients, Site 2 had 252. Demographics are listed in Table 1. 47% of the patients were male with an average age of 65. 51% of the patients were diabetic. Half of the patients were discharged to home. Bacteremia (24.4%) and osteomyelitis (23.3%) were the most frequent diagnoses. Vancomycin was the most commonly used antibiotic (25.6%). Tele-ID Clinic follow up rates varied by year and site between 19 to 26.6% (Figure 1). The choice of follow-up was determined by the primary inpatient physician. 30 Day Readmission Rates were lower for patients that were seen by the Tele-OPAT service (combined rate of 7.4%) vs. no follow up (62%) vs. PCP follow up (22%) vs. follow up with another MD (12.8%) (Figure 2a). Most patients seen by Tele-OPAT were readmitted for reasons not related to their initial infection or their antibiotic course (Figure 2b).Table 1. Patient Demographics Figure 1. Clinic Follow Up Rates Figure 2. Readmission Rates & Reasons for Readmission ConclusionPatients discharged on IV antibiotics who were managed via a Tele-OPAT service in an outpatient clinic had lower readmission rates than those who were seen by non-ID physicians or who had no outpatient follow-up. Tele-OPAT is an important option for patients residing in rural areas who are discharged on parenteral antibiotics.Disclosures Rima Abdel-Massih, MD, Infectious Disease Connect (Shareholder, Other Financial or Material Support, Chief Medical Officer) John Mellors, MD, Abound Bio (Shareholder)Accelevir Diagnostics (Consultant)Co-Crystal Pharmaceuticals (Shareholder)Gilead (Consultant, Grant/Research Support)Merck (Consultant)