What is OPAT?

OPAT is the administration of IV antibiotics outside of an acute care hospital, such as in a skilled nursing facility, outpatient infusion center, or in the home.

Typically, a home-care health nurse will conduct a first visit, instructing the patient and/or caregiver on how to administer and maintain OPAT.  The nurse may return for dressing changes, draw labs, and monitor the patient for adverse events.  Alternatively, the patient may be asked to return to the OPAT clinic for these services.

The goal of OPAT services is to reduce hospital re-admissions, while providing high quality patient care.

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center OPAT Clinic

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center offers an OPAT clinic to help patients and their caregivers manage OPAT.  In addition, the OPAT team will assist clinicians with line insertion, care plan development and oversight, and treatment of adverse events such as line infections, antibiotic resistance, and allergic reactions.  Jennifer Townsend, MD leads the Bayview OPAT clinic.

Clinical Excellence Award

From L to R: Jonathan Efron, MD; Carol Sylvester, RN, MS; Jennifer Townsend, MD; Jacqueline Heslin, BSN; Landon King, MD

In response to post-discharge safety issues, Johns Hopkins Bayview formed a multidisciplinary team to improve tracking and care coordination for patients on IV antibiotics.  With leadership from Carol Sylvester, RN, Vice President of Care Management Services, and Mitra Gavgani, PharmD, Vice President, Pharmacy Services at Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, the OPAT team includes a medical director and nurse case manager, as well as resources from the home care group, such as database management, nurse management and communications support.

Through the executive sponsorship of Carol Sylvester, RN, MS, Vice President of Care Management Services, Carol and the Johns Hopkins Bayview OPAT Team received the 2018 Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Excellence Award for Innovations in Clinical Care.  The award is presented to the physician, nurse and/or team who demonstrates a visionary approach to problem solving and performance improvement.

Rockland Physician Practice at Greenspring

The Rockland Physician Practice at Greenspring offers OPAT management.  Sara Keller, MD, MPH, MSPH leads the Greenspring OPAT clinic.  Other physicians with a special clinical interest in OPAT include Christopher Lippincott, MD, MPH; Maryana Shenderov, MD; and Karen Coffey, MD, MPH.

For additional information, contact the OPAT Clinical Practice at Johns Hopkins Greenspring.