Case Study
Coteau des Prairies Health Care System
Medication Assisted Treatment Services
Situation:
As a rural health care system, we identified that we have limited resources at hand for timely treatment of opioid use disorders.
Challenge:
When patients were identified as having an opioid use disorder, they were being treated for their symptoms then connected with outpatient or inpatient treatment services. These services were oftentimes located outside of the community and had waiting lists for access. The referral process required time, staffing and resources, that were usually not available.
Solution:
Through the identified situation and challenges, we explored opportunities for providing in-house clinical treatment services to directly treat the opioid use disorder and provide support to patients without significant disruption to their everyday life. Through the support of an RCORP-MAT Expansion grant, we built our program, Compass Care at CDP, utilizing a nurse care coordinator as the hub of services. We partnered with a tele-health substance use disorder clinic in our state, Project Recovery, to provide services as well as have one provider in our clinic who prescribes MAT/MOUD. The nurse care coordinator facilitates all appointments as well as provides resources and support tailored to the needs of each patient.
Results & Successes:
Compass Care at CDP did a soft-launch in summer of 2020 with a full launch in Fall 2020. During this first year, we have served more than 70 individuals suffering from opioid use disorder. We have formed wonderful relationships with others in our community and state who serve this patient population and partnered with them in providing comprehensive patient care.
Next Steps:
Our next phase of work is focused on providing treatment and support for non-opioid substance use disorders with a primary focus on stimulant use disorder. We are collaborating with other stakeholders across the state to create and implement evidence-based practices for stimulant use disorder.
Tips/Suggestions:
It is difficult to pinpoint what went well and what could have gone better. Our program is still fairly new and has been a constant evolution as we learn and grow both our knowledge and the numbers within our program.
One piece to consider as you explore this type of work is asking yourself “what areas will we address within the services we provide and when will we refer patients?” For our program, utilizing a nurse care coordinator, it is not within the individual’s scope to provide advice or guidance on trauma, or mental health related concerns. Oftentimes we find as we create relationships with the patients, they find it a safe space to share their struggles. While we are able to support them in connecting with a licensed professional to provide behavioral health services, we are clear to our patients that we are unable to give formal guidance or advice in these areas. Identifying that boundary for ourselves as well as for our patients has been important for us.
My number one piece of advice is to connect with others who are doing this work, ask questions, collect multiple points of view and then mold it all into what works best for your goals and your community. There are so many resources available and others who share this passion, everyone we have connected with has been more than willing to share lessons learned, processes and protocols.
Connect
Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions!
Michaela Johnson, PharmD
Director of Pharmacy
Director of Clinical Care Coordination Services
majohnson@cdphospital.com
Resources
- Avoid Opioid SD – education, patient resources
- Opioid Response Network – FREE Technical Assistance for nearly everything you need. Click “submit a request” on the homepage to request help
- Grant Funding