The University of New Mexico Hospital, based in Albuquerque, has launched a substance use disorder consult service designed to initiate treatment for inpatients, regardless of their reason for admission.
The program connects patients with addiction treatment during hospitalization and supports their transition to ongoing care after discharge, according to an Oct. 20 report. Clinicians can consult the service to evaluate any patient with a suspected or known substance use disorder, according to Sergio Huerta, MD, the program’s medical director.
In its inaugural year, the program logged more than 1,200 consults and started over 450 patients on medications for opioid use disorders such as buprenorphine or methadone. Chris Smith, MD, director of operations, said the program has improved care continuity and lowered rates of patients leaving the hospital against medical advice, according to the report.
UNM Hospital leaders said the program is also helping train medical students and residents to better identify and treat substance use disorder as a core component of care.
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