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Hawaii Addiction Treatment Providers Plan

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SMART Management is proud to serve Hawaii addiction treatment providers with an EHR specifically designed to streamline opioid treatment program workflows. Providers like Ku Aloha Mau dedicate their time to supporting the states efforts to stay ahead of the ongoing epidemic.

In 2019 Hawaii was awarded $2 million in federal grant funds to aid in opioid crisis prevention efforts. This funding helps Hawaii’s Opioid Initiative Action Plan and other proven programs, like those delivering Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).

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This plan includes action areas such as: modernizing healthcare strategies, improving prescribing practices, enhancing data collection, increasing consumer education and prescription harm management with pharmacy-based strategies, and supporting law enforcement and first responders. “Fortunately, Hawaii has not yet experienced the magnitude of the opioid crisis seen in other parts of the country,” said Gov. David Y. Ige in 2017 after the release of Hawaii’s Opioid Initiative Action Plan. “While emerging issues and concerns in the state are on the rise, we have been given a relatively unique opportunity to proactively respond, prepare, and prevent the crisis from reaching the same magnitude.”

For more information on Medication-Assisted Treatment or to find a treatment provider near you visit SAMHSA. If you are a MAT provider and want to learn about improving efficiencies at your facility, please visit SMART’s Solutions page or get to know other SMART EHR partners.

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EHR Software Vendor Serves Massachusetts OTPs

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SMART, EHR software vendor for opioid treatment programs proudly serves Habit OPCO Treatment Center. Now, apart of CRC Health Group, these Massachusetts-based clinics provide medically supervised methadone and Suboxone (buprenorphine) maintenance treatment. They help individuals working to overcome addiction to or dependence upon heroin or other opioids.

Methadone has been used for decades to treat individuals addicted to heroin and pain medicines. Many treatment providers have found success in treating patients via methadone dosing when combining with counseling and support programs. Habit Opco is a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Certified addiction treatment provider.

“With the ability to become fully electronic SMART has enabled us to improve communication within the program as well as ease the burden with paperwork. The medical order package has also simplified the need to write multiple orders when providing individual treatment to patients. As far as other departments go, another great feature is that we now have real-time access to multiple disciplines, medical, clinical, and financial. I have used two previous systems and this has been the best by far.” 

John Vinitsky, Director of Nursing, Habit OPCO, Inc.

 

Get to know other SMART EHR partners.

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CODAC, First Center of Excellence for Opioid Treatment

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codac-behavioral-healthcare-locationWe’re proud to shine the spotlight on CODAC, providing opioid treatment as well as recovery and prevention resources to individuals, families, and communities.  Recently, the state deemed CODAC as the first “Center of Excellence” regarding the treatment of opioid use disorders.

Rhode Island health officials estimate 20,000 Rhode Islanders are addicted to some form of opioid. However, only a few thousand are getting medication-assisted treatment. Given the number of people affected by addiction, there is a shortage of certified physicians. Currently, R.I. only has a total of 171 buprenorphine prescribers.

Increasing Opioid Treatment Access

Governor Raimondo advocates for the access of buprenorphine (Suboxone) and the availability of psychiatrists, social workers, and recovery coaches.  “Rhode Island’s first Center of Excellence will make it easier for patients with opioid use disorders…,” offers Raimondo.

CODAC provides Methadone, Naltrexone, or Suboxone for patients coming into treatment, so physicians can work with patients to choose the best treatment option for each person.  The Centers for Excellence model helps compensate for the shortage of certified professionals. Rebecca Boss, acting director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals celebrates CODAC for “recognizing overdose as a public health crisis and moving swiftly to complete the application process.”

About 1,700 Rhode Islanders died of drug overdoses between 2006 and 2014.  In 2014, Rhode Island had the sixth-highest rate of overdose deaths per 100,000 residents in the country.  The US Centers for Disease Control blames a majority of drug deaths on prescription opioids and heroin.

Primary Care Providers Needed

Patients may walk into a Center of Excellence or be referred. From there, patients are stabilized, given treatment, and referred to a care provider in the community. Advocates hope the design will help primary care doctors treat a growing number of opioid-dependent or addicted people. Centers can cater to patients who may need initial intensive care but do not require in-patient care.

Rhode Island is not alone in battling citizen opioid addiction. Connecticut recently deployed a three-year plan to combat addiction based on Yale University research.  In August alone, 27% of those admitted to the New Haven outpatient clinic were diagnosed with opioid-use disorder.  As US Attorney, Peter Neronha recently pointed out, the numbers of those in need may be obscured.  “Those potentially at risk of death were brought back by Narcan.”  Naloxone stops the effects of heroin or opioid overdose, stripping the opiate receptor site, and restoring breathing.  “When we realize how many times Narcan is being administered, we start to get a sense of how deadly this problem really is,” offers Neronha.

About CODAC

codac-behavioral-health-logoSince 1971, CODAC has served the Rhode Island community.  Its five locations enable a range of outpatient recovery treatment and prevention services.  Those struggling with drugs, gambling, or addictive behaviors rely on CODAC for compassionate and personalized service.

Learn more about the SMART Solution or get to know other SMART EHR partners.

http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160922/codac-behavioral-healthcare-certified-as-ris-first-center-of-excellence-in-opioid-treatment

http://ripr.org/post/pulse-new-path-opioid-addiction-treatment

http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2016/10/12/malloy-adopts-yale-researchers-opioid-plan/

https://www.woonsocketcall.com/news/what-are-rhode-island-leaders-doing-to-stop-the-opioid/article_8218f7f2-82c9-11e6-8268-47f93796675d.html

EHR for Patient Care at AATOD 2016

EHR for Patient Care at AATOD 2016

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Patient Care at AATOD 2016

SMART is pleased to announce our return as an exhibitor at the AATOD 2016 Conference in Baltimore, MD. Patient care is this year’s primary focus, “Saving Lives: Access to Improved Health & Recovery.” AATOD brings together thought leaders from across the nation to share their passion for patient care and recovery. As a result, this gathering yields invaluable industry knowledge rarely found all in one place. Learning more about the ever-changing needs of the opioid treatment industry draws us to this conference year after year. Also, we look forward to reuniting with our customers, as well as all treatment providers. Our interactions with attendees directly impact the evolution of our EHR.

Supporting Better Patient Care

EHR for Patient Care at AATOD 2016Last year we saw an influx of new attendees energized to share and learn best practices. This change undoubtedly correlates with the growing opioid epidemic. Our nation’s continuing recovery struggle is what influences the continuous development of the SMART Solution.

Helping providers deliver the best in class patient care is what drives the functionalities we build into our opioid treatment EHR. The carefully designed features of our EHR can help to implement efficiencies across treatment organizations.

For 25 years, SMART Management’s EHR the SMART Solution has helped opioid treatment providers improve collaboration and increase their efficiency. As SMART customer Turning Point of Bermuda said, “Patient files are easily accessible with the press of a button, and we are better able to coordinate patient care initiatives.”

Please stop by booth #307, register to win this year’s gift give away and learn how our EHR can help you improve patient care.

About AATOD

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence holds this conference every eighteen months. This event brings together national and international opioid treatment professionals for three days of knowledge sharing. More specifically, attendees delve into evidence-based clinical practice, current research breakthroughs, and organizational developments affecting the future of opioid addiction treatment. Also, AATOD works with federal and state agencies to develop guidelines for improving patient care in the substance abuse treatment field. Learn more or discover other substance abuse treatment and EHR events.

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Addiction Treatment Center of New England

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About

Addiction Treatment Center New EnglandThe Addiction Treatment Center of New England in Brighton, Massachusetts, is a clinically operated drug treatment program designed to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for clients in Brighton, Massachusetts. Their programs help clients gain control over their drug problems and learn alternatives to their addictive behavior.

ATCNE specializes in the treatment of opiate dependency, adhering to a philosophy that methadone services are an effective treatment for narcotic dependence. They have been at the same location since 1980. ATCNE is a member of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, Inc.™ (AATOD).

Contact ATCNE to learn more about their services.

Testimonials

“SMART integrates every facet of our clinic, from dispensing to counseling to administration. In terms of cash flow and billing Smart has improved our clinic incredibly.”   

– Administrator

 

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Greenwich House, Inc. – NYC

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About

Greenwich House was founded in 1902 to help Greenwich Village’s growing immigrant population adjust to life in New York City. While Greenwich Village has changed dramatically over the years, their mission has remained: to help individuals and families lead more fulfilling lives by offering social and health services, cultural and education programs and opportunities for civic involvement to New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, it provides nearly 12,000 New Yorkers with social, medical and cultural programs, all aimed at providing personal growth and enrichment. Since their founding, they have served nearly one million New Yorkers.

Greenwich House’s Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program provides individuals dependent on opioids, including heroin, with high-quality, personalized care to help overcome their addictions. Patients voluntarily come to the clinic and are treated with dignity and compassion as they receive individualized medical care, counseling and supportive services that help to improve their quality of life, promote self-sufficiency and connections within the community.

Learn more

Testimonial

“The treatment plan is fantastic! It makes it easier for me to be able to put a plan together. It is one of the greatest features! Also the psycho-social summary is direct and straight to the point.”    

– Intake Counselor

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Patient Record Management System Supports Addiction Treatment in WA

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photo credit pixabay

Evergreen Treatment Services (ETS) uses the SMART Solution, a 100% paperless EHR, as the patient record management system within their opioid treatment programs. This Washington-based addiction treatment provider works to transform the lives of individuals and their communities through active treatment and social services since 1973. Their services include methadone, or buprenorphine-based medications combine with wraparound services, like counseling, urine drug screens, acupuncture, and engagement with medical providers. ETS serves over 1500 patients at their three clinics in King, Thurston, and Grays Harbor counties. And their REACH Team provides street-based outreach services to vulnerable, chronically homeless adults with addiction in downtown Seattle.

About SMART’s EHR

The patient-centered design of the SMART Solution helps increase efficiencies in opioid treatment programs. Domestic and international OTPs use SMART’s EHR to paperlessly manage their patient records, streamline dosing, improve team collaboration, and maximize revenue.

ETS - Evergreen Treatment ServicesWhat ETS Says

“The installation, training, and the support we have received from the SMART team has been outstanding.”

“SMART has been our initiation into the world of electronic medical records…SMART has proven to be a great fit for us- very user-friendly.”

-Patient Services Manager, Evergreen Treatment Services, Inc.

 

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ETS Opens New Clinic to Aid Overdose Stricken County

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ETS-Opens-New-ClinicApril 2016 – Evergreen Treatment Services (ETS) has offered medication-assisted treatment for adults with opioid use disorder since 1973. This August they plan to open their newest location, a 350 patient facility in Renton, King County, Washington. This new addition comes on the heels of a 58% increase in heroin related deaths in 2015.¹ Assistant Division Director of King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division Brad Finegood noted that the opening of this clinic is a direct result of the overwhelming need for more treatment facilities in the area. “The problem is growing faster than our ability to build new facilities.”² ETS CEO, Molly Carney, said that methadone and buprenorphine as well as counseling services is a crucial part of treatment for those addicted to opioids.²

However, just offering this services does not solve the larger societal problem of public stigma. Time and time again we see instances of people fighting against the opening of clinics in their respective communities. Business owners and residents often feel concerned when they hear of the possibility of a medication-assisted treatment facility (often misleadingly referred to as just “methadone clinics”) opening near them for fear that an increase in criminal activity will follow. In a Philadelphia Daily News report on a proposed clinic opening they quoted one resident as saying, “We’re not gonna tolerate the existence of this establishment…No community is an appropriate place for a methadone clinic.”   The sentiment “not in my back yard” is commonly applied to treatment clinic openings. Logically, it should instead be applied to addressing overdose deaths because those are happening in everyone’s backyard. This is just one of the barriers that advocates, professionals and those in recovery face.

Stop-addiction-stigma-In a powerful statement, Assistant Division Director of King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, Brad Finegood said, “Public support is going to be very important…One of the biggest battles we are fighting is stigma. People who are opiate dependent are not bad people, they are people who have a sickness and illness. They have a medical condition. Rather than people being afraid, we need the community to rally around the fact that people need treatment. We have a need in our suburban cities and rather than saying we don’t want the services here, we want communities to embrace treatment and treatment that we know it works.”² Shilo Murphy of the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance says that, “If you want to stop overdose deaths…the key is getting rid of the stigma, loving and respecting people who use, supporting them to use with friends, providing them with education, and not shunning them.”¹

1.) http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/06/19/22411691/heroin-deaths-in-king-county-up-58-percent-since-last-year-other-opiate-deaths-declining

2.) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/375877011.html

 

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Too Late for Some. Consequences of Maine Underfunding Addiction Treatment

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discovery-houseThe Bangor Daily News (BDN)  helped give a public voice to substance use treatment facilities during these fiscally turbulent years in Maine. Individuals who are reaching out to get into treatment for their addiction are being wait-listed for long periods of time due to lack of state funding for opioid treatment programs. Maine is finally realizing the depth of their opiate problem and legislators are now taking steps to override the devastating changes. These changes have left thousands of opiate-dependent Mainers without treatment access.

Discovery House‘s Program Director Brent Miller spoke with Bangor Daily News about his clinic’s wait-list. Currently he has 550 methadone patients with approximately 61 people on their ever-growing wait-list. As soon as they are able to take in a new patient they call them, however, many times that individual has become unreachable for reasons like hospitalization, imprisonment or death from overdose. Brent told BDN, “You ought to celebrate that a person is reaching out to get well…We impugn them at every turn and make it difficult for them to actually do it. That’s why it’s a miracle that people are able to fight through the prejudice and actually get into recovery.”

There are whispers of treatment facility reimbursement rates being raised, but for now its just a waiting game. Read the full article

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REACH Ahead of Addiction

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evergreen logo newsEvergreen Treatment Services (ETS) has been ahead of the opioid addiction treatment curve for over 20 years with their REACH Program. This program focuses on serving the homeless and addicted with outreach and in-depth case management using a variety of harm-reduction approaches. The primary goal is to meet clients where they are in their recovery process, and ultimately  help them to achieve successful and healthy lives. An important part of REACH services is that they are not contingent upon a client’s sobriety or abstinence. This allows addicted participants the opportunity to keep fighting for their recovery even though they may have been overcome by their addiction during the process.

Sound familiar? The principles of the REACH program are much like that of the later established LEAD Program. With origins in King County, Washington the LEAD Program is privately funded by multiple sponsors and partners with ETS to help treat participants of the program. The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program is gaining clout and spreading to law enforcement agencies across the US. Instead of the cyclical process of addiction arrest, jail time, release, repeat –  officials are beginning to embrace the idea that treatment rather than mandatory jail time will produce the long-term recovery results that society should really be striving toward.

chasing heroinThe “addiction epidemic” as it has been rightfully named, has been front and center in the political realm as well. Presidential hopefuls are sharing their intended plans and President Obama announced that the 2017 budget will include $1.1 billion to combat opioid use disorders with expanded access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs. Nevertheless, there is still a segment of the American population that refuses to accept treatment facilities into their communities, mostly for lack of opioid treatment awareness.

This past week PBS aired a powerful 2 hour Frontline Documentary, Chasing Heroin. ETS was one of the facilities featured as the documentary followed a patient into treatment. This film follows the stories of multiple people from varied backgrounds, all fighting the same fight but at different points in their recovery. A core message was that addiction is a disease not a crime and should be treated as such. Those affected are most likely to achieve success when they choose to, not when they are forced to. One police officer, who is involved in the LEAD program said that she acts as more of a “case manager” when interacting with individuals suffering from addiction. Encouraging, uplifting and caring.

Chasing Heroin is enlightening and inspiring look into the state of addiction in the U.S.  It can be viewed online at PBS.org.