New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln is piloting a new care model designed to support patients with opioid use disorder after emergency department visits — part of a growing effort to integrate addiction care more effectively into behavioral health services.
Through the care model, patients treated for opioid use or nonfatal overdoses at Lincoln Hospital’s ED will be connected to a team care team that will follow them for up to a year post discharge. The team, which includes community health workers and peer counselors, will connect with patients twice a week, linking them to addiction services, medical care, public benefits, housing and other community resources. Participants will also receive a cell phone and service contract to stay engaged with care.
The pilot is a partnership between NYC Health + Hospitals, the Staten Island Performing Provider System and Robin Hood, which awarded $600,000 to support the program.
Lincoln Hospital is located in the Bronx, which has the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths in New York City.
“Our Hotspotting program will provide continuity of care as patients transition from the hospital into the community setting and will help them stay connected to healthcare and addiction services,” Daniel Schatz, medical director of substance use disorder services at NYC Health + Hospitals, said in an April 15 news release. “Our goals are to support people living with opioid use disorder, reduce overdose deaths and nonfatal overdoses, and reduce use of the emergency department — all while making our patients feel seen and treating them with dignity.”
The program will launch later this year and aims to serve about 150 patients.
Learn more here.
