Objective

To examine the value of data obtained outside of regular healthcare visits (clinical communications) to detect problematic opioid use in electronic health records (EHRs).

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Participants

Chronic pain patient records in a large academic medical center.

Interventions

We compared evidence for problematic opioid use in (1) clinic notes, (2) clinical communications, and (3) full EHR data. We analyzed keyword counts and calculated concordance and Cohen's κ between data sources.

Main outcome measure

Evidence of problematic opioid use in EHR defined as none, some, or high.

Results

Twenty-six percent of records were discordant in determination of problematic opioid use between clinical communications and clinic notes. Of these, 54 percent detected more evidence in clinical communications, and 46 percent in clinic notes. Compared to full EHR review, clinic notes exhibited higher concordance (78 percent; κ = 0.619) than clinical communications (60 percent; κ = 0.290).

Conclusion

Clinical communications are a valuable addition to opioid EHR research.