Title

Implementation of a Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) and Linkage Program by Leveraging Community Partnerships and Medical Toxicology Expertise.

Authors

Gillian A. Beauchamp MD, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Lexis Laubach BS, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Samantha B. Esposito BS, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Ali Yazdanyar DO, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Paige Roth LSW, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Priyanka Lauber DO, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Jamie Allen DO, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Nathan Boateng BA, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Samantha A. Shaak PhD, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
David B. Burmeister DO, FACEP, CPE, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow

Publication/Presentation Date

11-4-2020

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Implementing a hospital medication for addiction treatment (MAT) and a linkage program can improve care for patients with substance use disorder (SUD); however, lack of hospital funding and brick and mortar SUD resources are potential barriers to feasibility.

METHODS: This study assesses the feasibility of implementation of a SUD linkage program. Components of the program include a county-funded hospital opioid support team (HOST), a hospital-employed addiction recovery specialist (ARS), and a medical toxicology MAT induction service and maintenance program. Data for linkage by HOST, ARS, and MAT program were tracked from July 2018 to December 2019.

RESULTS: From July 2018 through December 2019, 1834 patients were linked to treatment: 1536 by HOST and 298 by the ARS. The most common disposition categories for patients linked by HOST were 16.73% to medically monitored detoxification, 9.38% to intensive outpatient, and 8.59% to short-term residential treatment. Among patients linked by the ARS, 65.66% were linked to outpatient treatment and 9.43% were linked directly to inpatient treatment. A total of 223 patients managed by the ARS were started on MAT by medical toxicology and linked to outpatient MAT clinic: 72.68% on buprenorphine/naloxone, 24.59% on naltrexone, 1.09% buprenorphine, and 0.55% acamprosate.

CONCLUSION: Implementing a MAT and linkage program in the ED and hospital setting was feasible. Leveraging medical toxicology expertise as well as community and funding partnerships was crucial to successful implementation.

Volume

17

Issue

2

First Page

176

Last Page

184

ISSN

1937-6995

Published In/Presented At

Beauchamp, G. A., Laubach, L. T., Esposito, S. B., Yazdanyar, A., Roth, P., Lauber, P., Allen, J., Boateng, N., Shaak, S., & Burmeister, D. B. (2021). Implementation of a Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) and Linkage Program by Leveraging Community Partnerships and Medical Toxicology Expertise. Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 17(2), 176–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-020-00813-4

Disciplines

Medical Toxicology | Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

33146875

Peer Reviewed for front end display

Peer-Reviewed

Department(s)

Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine Residents, Department of Medicine, Fellows and Residents

Document Type

Article