Carly Levy | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (original) (raw)
Papers by Carly Levy
Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs) can play a key role in treating and managing patients w... more Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs) can play a key role in treating and managing patients with opioid use disorders. The purpose of this study was to understand the practices and protocols followed by Massachusetts EDs in managing non-fatal opioid overdoses and review the treatment options made available to these patients in various ED settings. Methods: Researchers established a structured interview protocol, reviewed by medical professionals within the field and pilot-tested with two registered nurses. The interview protocol was submitted to and approved by the Institutional Review Board at MCPHS University (IRB060318L). Purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling were used. Researchers interviewed 21 ED personnel from 18 hospitals throughout Massachusetts either face-to-face or over-the-phone for approximately 15-20 minutes. Results: Many Massachusetts EDs interviewed offer a brief (1 to 4 hour) medical observation period, followed by offering patients naloxone and the op...
Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs) can play a key role in treating and managing patients w... more Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs) can play a key role in treating and managing patients with opioid use disorders. The purpose of this study was to understand the practices and protocols followed by Massachusetts EDs in managing non-fatal opioid overdoses and review the treatment options made available to these patients in various ED settings. Methods: Researchers established a structured interview protocol, reviewed by medical professionals within the field and pilot-tested with two registered nurses. The interview protocol was submitted to and approved by the Institutional Review Board at MCPHS University (IRB060318L). Purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling were used. Researchers interviewed 21 ED personnel from 18 hospitals throughout Massachusetts either face-to-face or over-the-phone for approximately 15-20 minutes. Results: Many Massachusetts EDs interviewed offer a brief (1 to 4 hour) medical observation period, followed by offering patients naloxone and the op...
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2019
Highlights The relationship between physical activity (PA) and mental health is dose-responsive... more Highlights The relationship between physical activity (PA) and mental health is dose-responsive Even insufficient activity levels are associated with better mental health outcomes Aerobic vs. strengthening exercise more effectively reduces poor mental health days PA interventions could lessen health impacts from anxiety, depression, and stress
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 2019
Objectives: The United States declared the opioid crisis a Public Health Emergency in 2017 and re... more Objectives: The United States declared the opioid crisis a Public Health Emergency in 2017 and recommended increasing access and availability of naloxone, a reversal agent for opioid overdose. In Massachusetts, there is a statewide standing order for naloxone, which allows pharmacists to dispense it without a prescription to any person at-risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or other persons who can assist individuals at-risk. The objective of this study was to determine whether pharmacists in Massachusetts have sufficient education and training to fulfill the duties associated with dispensing naloxone in community pharmacy settings. The researchers investigated the pharmacists' ability to counsel patients both on naloxone and management of patients with an opioid overdose. Methods: At the time of the study, pharmacies could elect to have a standing order for naloxone. A randomized sample of 100 pharmacies was generated from the 792 pharmacies with a standing order. From this sample, 79 of the 100 pharmacies were visited on the basis of convenience and distribution in eastern and central Massachusetts. At each pharmacy, a validated 25-item survey was administered to pharmacists. Results: Fewer than half of participants knew that different formulations of naloxone possess different quantities. Although 52% of pharmacists indicated the need to call 9-1-1 when witnessing an opioid overdose, 8% knew to start rescue breathing, and 4% knew to place patients in the recovery position. Conclusion: Despite regulations requiring all pharmacies with a standing order to provide training on naloxone, many of the pharmacists surveyed did not have a strong understanding about naloxone products or its pharmacology. The level of education Massachusetts pharmacists possess on naloxone products and administration is not sufficient to counsel patients regarding this medication. Increasing training requirements in pharmacy schools and continuing education offers potential solutions to the lack of knowledge in the community pharmacy setting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other U.S. government agencies have repo... more The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other U.S. government agencies have reported over 2 million Americans currently suffer from opioid use disorder. Assisting those with opioid use disorder is a national problem that needs more attention and commitment. One approach that shows promise is the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for those with opioid use disorder. Methods: The researchers sent two questionnaires, made follow-up phone calls as appropriate, and sent emails to the 1300 providers in Massachusetts who were publicly available in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) website and who have waivers to prescribe buprenorphine Result: Among the prescribers, payment and pharmacy issues were significant barriers faced by prescribers (OR 14.441; 95% CI 3.660 – 56.981). Among the non-prescribers, significant barriers were low demand (OR 0.305; 95% CI 0.096 – 0.965) and insufficient knowledge (OR 0.117; 95% CI 0.032 – 0.429)...
Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs) can play a key role in treating and managing patients w... more Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs) can play a key role in treating and managing patients with opioid use disorders. The purpose of this study was to understand the practices and protocols followed by Massachusetts EDs in managing non-fatal opioid overdoses and review the treatment options made available to these patients in various ED settings. Methods: Researchers established a structured interview protocol, reviewed by medical professionals within the field and pilot-tested with two registered nurses. The interview protocol was submitted to and approved by the Institutional Review Board at MCPHS University (IRB060318L). Purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling were used. Researchers interviewed 21 ED personnel from 18 hospitals throughout Massachusetts either face-to-face or over-the-phone for approximately 15-20 minutes. Results: Many Massachusetts EDs interviewed offer a brief (1 to 4 hour) medical observation period, followed by offering patients naloxone and the op...
Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs) can play a key role in treating and managing patients w... more Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs) can play a key role in treating and managing patients with opioid use disorders. The purpose of this study was to understand the practices and protocols followed by Massachusetts EDs in managing non-fatal opioid overdoses and review the treatment options made available to these patients in various ED settings. Methods: Researchers established a structured interview protocol, reviewed by medical professionals within the field and pilot-tested with two registered nurses. The interview protocol was submitted to and approved by the Institutional Review Board at MCPHS University (IRB060318L). Purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling were used. Researchers interviewed 21 ED personnel from 18 hospitals throughout Massachusetts either face-to-face or over-the-phone for approximately 15-20 minutes. Results: Many Massachusetts EDs interviewed offer a brief (1 to 4 hour) medical observation period, followed by offering patients naloxone and the op...
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2019
Highlights The relationship between physical activity (PA) and mental health is dose-responsive... more Highlights The relationship between physical activity (PA) and mental health is dose-responsive Even insufficient activity levels are associated with better mental health outcomes Aerobic vs. strengthening exercise more effectively reduces poor mental health days PA interventions could lessen health impacts from anxiety, depression, and stress
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 2019
Objectives: The United States declared the opioid crisis a Public Health Emergency in 2017 and re... more Objectives: The United States declared the opioid crisis a Public Health Emergency in 2017 and recommended increasing access and availability of naloxone, a reversal agent for opioid overdose. In Massachusetts, there is a statewide standing order for naloxone, which allows pharmacists to dispense it without a prescription to any person at-risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or other persons who can assist individuals at-risk. The objective of this study was to determine whether pharmacists in Massachusetts have sufficient education and training to fulfill the duties associated with dispensing naloxone in community pharmacy settings. The researchers investigated the pharmacists' ability to counsel patients both on naloxone and management of patients with an opioid overdose. Methods: At the time of the study, pharmacies could elect to have a standing order for naloxone. A randomized sample of 100 pharmacies was generated from the 792 pharmacies with a standing order. From this sample, 79 of the 100 pharmacies were visited on the basis of convenience and distribution in eastern and central Massachusetts. At each pharmacy, a validated 25-item survey was administered to pharmacists. Results: Fewer than half of participants knew that different formulations of naloxone possess different quantities. Although 52% of pharmacists indicated the need to call 9-1-1 when witnessing an opioid overdose, 8% knew to start rescue breathing, and 4% knew to place patients in the recovery position. Conclusion: Despite regulations requiring all pharmacies with a standing order to provide training on naloxone, many of the pharmacists surveyed did not have a strong understanding about naloxone products or its pharmacology. The level of education Massachusetts pharmacists possess on naloxone products and administration is not sufficient to counsel patients regarding this medication. Increasing training requirements in pharmacy schools and continuing education offers potential solutions to the lack of knowledge in the community pharmacy setting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other U.S. government agencies have repo... more The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other U.S. government agencies have reported over 2 million Americans currently suffer from opioid use disorder. Assisting those with opioid use disorder is a national problem that needs more attention and commitment. One approach that shows promise is the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for those with opioid use disorder. Methods: The researchers sent two questionnaires, made follow-up phone calls as appropriate, and sent emails to the 1300 providers in Massachusetts who were publicly available in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) website and who have waivers to prescribe buprenorphine Result: Among the prescribers, payment and pharmacy issues were significant barriers faced by prescribers (OR 14.441; 95% CI 3.660 – 56.981). Among the non-prescribers, significant barriers were low demand (OR 0.305; 95% CI 0.096 – 0.965) and insufficient knowledge (OR 0.117; 95% CI 0.032 – 0.429)...