Managing an outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy team: challenges and solutions

Jenana Halilovic; Cinda L Christensen; Hien H Nguyen

doi:10.2147/TCRM.S48906

Managing an outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy team: challenges and solutions

Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014 Jun 18:10:459-65. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S48906. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Jenana Halilovic¹, Cinda L Christensen², Hien H Nguyen³

Affiliations

¹ University of the Pacific Thomas J Long School of Pharmacy, Stockton, CA, USA.
² Department of Pharmaceutical Services, University of California, Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, USA.
³ Division of Infectious Diseases, Section of Hospital Medicine, University of California, Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Abstract

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) programs should strive to deliver safe, cost effective, and high quality care. One of the keys to developing and sustaining a high quality OPAT program is to understand the common challenges or barriers to OPAT delivery. We review the most common challenges to starting and managing an OPAT program and give practical advice on addressing these issues.

Keywords: OPAT; program management; quality; safety.

Publication types

Review