Moderator: Michael Barnes, JD, Chairman, Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence, and Member, National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit Advisory Board

CE Certified By: AMA,AAFP,ACPE,ANCC,APA,NAADAC,NASW,NBCC

To address the significant need to connect patients to treatment following an opioid overdose or crisis, Illinois awarded a grant through 21st Century Cures Act funds to the nonprofit Gateway Foundation — the state’s largest provider of substance use disorder treatment services. The foundation partnered with four hospitals in the Chicago area to create Project Warm Hand Off. Based on an SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) model, the project aims to identify persons struggling with opioid use disorder and connect them directly to treatment from the emergency department. For patients who initially decline assistance, a recovery coach continues to follow up. The project collects data on participant profiles, as well as measures outcomes using HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set). In this session, presenters will share insights from the program development phase and the process of engaging hospital providers. As the project is in its first year, presenters will share stories of challenges and successes in moving patients through the process toward their first step toward recovery. Initial participant and outcome data will also be presented. Project Warm Hand Off is working toward sustainability that will allow the program and the impact to continue well beyond the grant funding period.

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
- Identify the challenges of moving patients from hospitals to treatment settings.
- Describe an SBIRT model and assessment tools.
- Evaluate the potential for developing a program in their community.