Shelly Kucherer, MD, Receives HAP Award for Benzodiazepine Deprescription Project
We are delighted to announce that Shelly Kucherer, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), has received a 2023 Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) Achievement Award in the Excellence in Care Category. Dr. Kucherer received the award for her project, “Process and Outcomes for Deprescribing Benzodiazepines in the Outpatient Setting for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism,” conducted in collaboration with Andreea Temelie, PharmD, BCPP (Clinical Pharmacist). HAP’s annual Achievement Awards recognize innovative approaches to strengthening the safety and quality of care, enhancing operations and patients’ experience, and partnering with their communities to address public health needs.
Dr. Kucherer and Dr. Temelie studied how to safely and effectively taper off or reduce usage of benzodiazepines among adults with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disability and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Though complete data analysis is ongoing, initial analysis estimates that 50% of the study group was able to successfully taper benzodiazepines without worsening of psychiatric stability.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kucherer!