623 - Self-Administered Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (S-OPAT) in Uninsured Patients

Background: Uninsured patients requiring long-term intravenous (IV) antimicrobials do not have access to outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and often remain hospitalized for the duration of their treatment, transition to inferior oral antimicrobials, or leave against medical advice. A hospital-supported self-administered OPAT (S-OPAT) program was piloted in uninsured patients to decrease hospital length of stay and improve access to care.

Methods: Uninsured adult patients requiring IV antimicrobials were enrolled in an S-OPAT pilot study from July 2019 to April 2020. Patients with drug use history or documented non-adherence were excluded. S-OPAT patients attended weekly clinic visits for blood draws, dressing changes, and medication supply. The measured outcomes were hospital days saved, and potential income generated by earlier discharges. The latter was calculated by multiplying the number of hospital days saved by the daily charge for a hospital bed to insured patients.

Results: Seventeen patients were enrolled in S-OPAT, 14 (82%) were males, 8 (47%) were black, and the mean age was 39 years. The most common indication for OPAT was bone and joint infections in 12 (71%), and most commonly used antibiotic was ceftriaxone in 12 (71%) patients (Table). Early discontinuation occurred in 3 (17%) patients due to clinic visit non-adherence resulted in 2 (12%) and adverse drug events in 1 (6%). Only one (6%) patient had unplanned hospital readmission during OPAT. Transition to S-OPAT resulted in 533 hospital days avoided, and a net saving of approximately $900,000.

Conclusion: S-OPAT model is safe and can enhance care for uninsured patients while optimizing health-system resources.Table