Site selection
7–30
The study team distributed a call for applications to be a clinical site for the trial to the NIDA Clinical Trials Network, which comprises 16 geographically distinct nodes, each of which is affiliated with one or more large academic centers and multiple clinical sites. Eligible sites were expected to have approximately 7–30 PCPs who would be eligible to participate, capacity to provide referrals to opioid treatment program(s), an electronic health record, a clinical champion willing to work with the study team to facilitate study clinical activities, and space for a nurse care manager. Participating sites could not have an existing collaborative care model dedicated to managing patients receiving opioid prescriptions. Although not required, additional desirable characteristics included location in a region with higher-than-average prevalence of opioid use, capacity to provide in-office buprenorphine treatment, ethnic/racial diversity, and space in or near the clinic for research activities.The study team conducted site visits with potential clinics from June to September 2019 and the sites were finalized in November 2019.