For patients in recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD), the gap between a written prescription and a filled medication is a high-risk zone where treatment adherence frequently collapses due to stock inconsistencies and systemic stigma.
New research led by Lyn Yuen Choo, Pharm.D., Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow at UHCOP’s Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research (PREMIER) Center, suggests that the solution to this public health crisis lies in the implementation of a multi-component pharmacy-based intervention, including the integration of pharmacy informatics.
"The additional barriers that patients encounter when obtaining their buprenorphine at pharmacies increase their risk of treatment non-adherence and illicit drug use,” Choo said. “Hence, the transition from clinic to pharmacy is critical in ensuring that patients are consistently receiving the life-saving medication that they need.”
Choo’s research was recently distinguished on a national scale at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) 2026 Annual Meeting & Exposition, where it was selected as one of only 10 “Featured Research and Science Posters.” Her poster, titled “Improving Access to Buprenorphine: A Pilot Multi-Component Pharmacy Intervention,” was showcased during the inaugural “Walking Poster Tour” on March 28. This selection placed Choo’s work among the top tier of scientific contributions recognized for their potential to transform pharmacy practice and patient outcomes.
The “Epic Willow” Catalyst
Choo’s Quality Improvement (QI) initiative, conducted across health sites affiliated with Choo’s alma mater West Virginia University, addressed a pervasive public health challenge: While federal policy has expanded prescribing authority, approximately one-third of patients reported missing doses due to pharmacy-level barriers. Choo’s intervention utilized the Epic Willow ambulatory module, the comprehensive pharmacy information system within the Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform, to bridge the data gap between the clinic and the pharmacy. This integration provided pharmacists with real-time visibility into patient medical records, transforming the pharmacy from an isolated retail point into a specialized extension of the clinical team.
‘Timely and Essential’
"Our research being recognized as a Featured Research and Science poster indicates that barriers to buprenorphine access are an urgent problem in the field of addiction science and pharmacy practice,” Choo said. “Interventions that facilitate buprenorphine dispensing, pharmacist-prescriber collaborations and stigma reduction are timely and essential in ensuring continuous access to treatment and reducing opioid overdose deaths.”
Data from the pilot study showed significant improvements in efficiency. Notably, 100% of the pharmacy staff involved reported that the integrated EMR software enhanced their workflow and increased their confidence and comfort in dispensing buprenorphine.
Patient outcomes were equally robust; 61.5% of patient participants in the intervention group achieved 100% proportion of days covered (PDC), indicating these patients had access to their prescribed buprenorphine every single day during the three-month study period.
This national spotlight emphasizes UHCOP’s growing influence in the field.
"Our work highlights UHCOP’s leadership in addressing the opioid crisis and advancing the pharmacy profession.”
This research was led by Choo, under the supervision of Erin Winstanley, Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, and Douglas Thornton, Associate Professor at the UHCOP, who contributed as a research collaborator and is currently Choo’s supervisor at UHCOP’s PREMIER Center.