Improving Patient Outcomes With Early Initiation of LAIs
What role do long-acting injectables (LAIs) play in improving long-term outcomes for patients with schizophrenia? In this discussion, Brooke Kempf, PMHNP-BC, MSN, hospitalist at the Hamilton Center, highlights the benefits of early LAI initiation, from reducing relapse rates and mortality to preventing irreversible brain damage. Kempf also shares practical strategies for overcoming implementation challenges, emphasizing the importance of patient education and leveraging available resources to ensure medication adherence. Plus, she offers an exciting glimpse into emerging treatment innovations that are transforming psychiatric care.
For more expert insights, visit the Schizophrenia Excellence Forum here on Psych Congress Network.
Psych Congress Network: How can early initiation of LAIs contribute to better long-term outcomes? What practical steps can be taken to overcome the challenges associated with implementation?
Brooke Kempf, PMHNP-BC: I think as we look at the evidence, there's no provider that could deny the benefits of starting a long-acting injectable early. When you look at the outcomes of utilizing long-acting injectables, you see decreased relapse rates, you see decreased mortality. There are ongoing benefits of avoiding permanent brain damage. Loss of brain tissue can all be avoided by ensuring that your patient is getting their medication through a long-acting injectable. We know if a patient's missed medication, we're able to intervene early and hopefully prevent some of that long-term damage. I know sometimes it's not easy to implement this strategy, but there are a ton of options we have now. If you do not administer long-acting injectables within your own clinic, there are a multitude of resources that you can use, maybe through a primary care office, maybe through your pharmacist. There are other places that individuals could actually go to get their injection. So at the end of the day, it's very important to educate your patient on these options and then help them overcome the barriers. If you find any limitations or struggles of getting the injection, there are ways to overcome those.
PCN: Are there any new and emerging treatments, either LAIs or beyond, that you're particularly excited about?
Kempf: I've been in this career for almost 30 years now, and I can honestly say these last couple years have been the most exciting, and I am so thankful that I am in this profession at this time in watching these new incredible treatment options coming. We are utilizing new mechanisms of action. We are administering medications in different ways. We are finally doing things differently now. So I'm so excited to see what our future comes for the treatment of our patients.
Brooke Kempf, MSN, PMHNP-BC, has worked as a psychiatric nurse at Hamilton Center in Terre Haute, Indiana, since she graduated from Indiana State University with an associate degree in 1994. Her passion for mental health was sparked as she worked as a charge nurse on the Inpatient Unit and continued to grow as she served in their outpatient setting while obtaining her bachelor’s degree from ISU in 1996. She was awarded the 2008 Hamilton Award for Outstanding Staff Member. Kempf was then able to obtain her master’s degree from the State University at Stony Brook of New York and is board-certified by the ANCC as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She currently practices as the Hospitalist for the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit of Hamilton Center Community Mental Health Center in Terre Haute, Indiana and is an adjunct lecturer for IUPUI’s PMHNP program, teaching and was awarded the 2022 Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty.
