Gainwell’s Cutting-Edge Research Platform Enables Stanford’s Breakthrough Study on Opioid Addiction
Marks First in a Series of Critical Research Projects Powered by Gainwell
TYSONS CORNER, Virginia – Gainwell Technologies, a leading innovator in healthcare technology solutions, has partnered with top academic institutions to drive research addressing some of the nation’s biggest healthcare challenges.
Gainwell’s advanced research platform and access to de-identified Medicaid claims, provided by its clients, give the company a one-of-a-kind data asset. A number of top universities are already using the platform to unlock the root causes of critical health issues. Together with our clients, we will use the research results to improve care and drive better health outcomes.
The first of these studies was released by one of Gainwell’s leading partners, Stanford University. A new Stanford University study published in the PLOS Digital Health journal showed a patient’s first experience with an opioid prescription is a major factor driving opioid addiction.
The Stanford research produced a striking finding. Of the patients who had never taken an opioid, 29.9 percent developed an opioid dependency following their first prescription. The study’s data concluded that the larger the quantity and longer the duration of patients’ prescriptions, the more prone they were to develop an opioid dependency.
Gainwell enabled this study by providing Stanford with a unique research database. Stanford used 180,000 de-identified Medicaid claims from six states. Gainwell’s state Medicaid clients approved utilizing this data, knowing it would be applied to help solve a devastating healthcare crisis and save lives. Gainwell will also incorporate Stanford’s research findings into new, innovative healthcare solutions.
“The U.S. is being ravaged by an opioid epidemic that costs us tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars each year,” said Dr. Tina Hernandez-Boussard, associate professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, who led the study. “Data holds the key to solving the opioid epidemic. This study should provide some pause to doctors who prescribe only opioids as a first-line treatment for pain rather than non-opioid pain medications.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the 12-month period ending in April 2021, more than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S. Of those deaths, nearly 76 percent involved opioids.
“We are excited Gainwell’s advanced database is enabling critical research to solve real-world problems,” said Gainwell Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Call. “We are grateful to our clients who agreed to provide their de-identified data to enable this important research. Gainwell is working closely with our research partners to ensure their findings are put to practical use in our analytics and care management products.”
Dr. Call continued, “The opioid epidemic is one of the most critical issues of our time. The key to eradicating addiction is determining the factors that cause it. Stanford’s research will save lives as Gainwell and our clients incorporate it into caring for Medicaid beneficiaries.”
Gainwell facilitated the research data environment for Stanford under the umbrella of Australia’s Digital Health CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) to sponsor this research. The consortium, comprised of government, academic and industry partners, was established to harness digital technology to address many of the world’s most challenging healthcare issues.
Annette Schmiede, Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre CEO, said, “Stanford’s research and Gainwell’s leadership show the global impact our work is having on solving seemingly intractable healthcare issues. Opioid addiction is a clear and present danger across the world that can and should be solved. The insights from this research will be at the heart of that solution.”
About Gainwell Technologies
Gainwell Technologies is the leading provider of technology solutions that are vital to the administration and operations of health and human services programs. With more than 50 years of proven experience, Gainwell has a reputation for service excellence and unparalleled industry expertise. We offer clients scalable and flexible solutions for their most complex challenges. These capabilities make us a trusted partner for organizations seeking reliability, innovation and transformational outcomes. Learn more at gainwelltechnologies.com.
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Elizabeth Bonet, Gainwell Technologies
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