Features and overview

Follow-up for tapering should be done with PACT Team. Follow-up for tapering is recommended to be a team function with various team members taking on roles in which they have demonstrated specific competencies. Mental health practitioners may need to be included in the follow-up plan. During the slowest taper, follow up with the Veteran 1 to 4 weeks after starting taper then monthly before each reduction. During the slower taper, follow up with the Veteran 1 to 4 weeks after starting taper then monthly before each reduction. During the faster taper, follow up with the Veteran weekly before each dose reduction. During the rapid taper, follow up with the Veteran daily before each dose reduction or if available offer inpatient admission. The follow-up during the slowest, slower, and faster tapering can be done in the clinic and/or over telephone. The follow-up during the rapid tapering can be done in the hospital, clinic or over telephone. Providers will need to determine whether a telephone or in-clinic appointment is appropriate based on the risk category of the Veteran. A Veteran with high risk due to a medical condition may have decompensation during the taper and may require a clinic visit over telephone follow-up. If there are issues with the Veteran obtaining outside prescriptions or they are displaying other aberrant behaviors during the taper, providing follow-up in a clinic visit may be more optimal than a telephone visit. Follow up on patient function, pain intensity, sleep, physical activity, personal goals, and stress level.

Question: With whom to follow up during opioid taper?
Answer: PACT Team

Question: Follow-up for tapering is recommended to be what?
Answer: a team function with various team members taking on roles in which they have demonstrated specific competencies

Question: What is recommended to be a team function?
Answer: Follow-up for tapering

Question: Who may need to be included in the follow-up plan?
Answer: Mental health practitioners

Question: When to follow up with the Veteran during the slowest taper?
Answer: 1 to 4 weeks after starting taper then monthly before each reduction

Question: When to follow up with the Veteran during the slower taper?
Answer: 1 to 4 weeks after starting taper then monthly before each reduction

Question: When to follow up with the Veteran during the faster taper?
Answer: weekly before each dose reduction

Question: When to follow up with the Veteran during the rapid taper?
Answer: daily before each dose reduction or if available offer inpatient admission

Question: Where to follow up with the Veteran during the slowest taper?
Answer: in the clinic and/or over telephone

Question: Where to follow up with the Veteran during the slower taper?
Answer: in the clinic and/or over telephone

Question: Where to follow up with the Veteran during the faster taper?
Answer: in the clinic and/or over telephone

Question: Where to follow up with the Veteran during the rapid taper?
Answer: in the hospital, clinic or over telephone

Question: Based on which factors providers will need to determine whether a telephone or in-clinic appointment is appropriate?
Answer: the risk category of the Veteran

Question: Who will need to determine whether a telephone or in-clinic appointment is appropriate based on the risk category of the Veteran?
Answer: Providers

Question: Who may have decompensation during the taper?
Answer: A Veteran with high risk due to a medical condition

Question: Who may require a clinic visit over telephone follow-up?
Answer: A Veteran with high risk due to a medical condition

Question: What to do if there are issues with the Veteran obtaining outside prescriptions during the taper?
Answer: providing follow-up in a clinic visit may be more optimal than a telephone visit

Question: What to do when patients are displaying other aberrant behaviors during the taper?
Answer: providing follow-up in a clinic visit may be more optimal than a telephone visit

Question: On what to follow-up with the Veteran?
Answer: patient function, pain intensity, sleep, physical activity, personal goals, and stress level