Page 17 - Delaware Medical Journal - December 2017
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CASE STUDY
community:
The peers can engage the patients and use their skills
and rapport to assist in finding treatment for them in
the community. It’s a great way to bring an extra set of hands for patients who have a history of substance abuse disorders... They’re often at a point where they’re frustrated with the system or with their illness, and to see someone who got through what they’re going through — that gives them hope and engages the patient, so they can find treatment. (Dr. Sapra, Psychiatrist)12
This program fosters strong partnerships among the interdisciplinary teams and fosters a supportive relationship between patients and Peer Navigators. Since implementation in Pittsburgh, two additional western Pennsylvania hospital facilities have hired peer recovery supports on medical units.12
CONCLUSION
Substance abuse treatment continues to evolve as the needs of people served demand creative strategies. To this end, community-based peer support services have been used
with positive outcomes, however, EDs and inpatient settings usually do not have peer support available. The expansion of peer support services into medical hospitals has proven to be 5
REFERENCES
Highlights from this case study suggest that hospitals and health systems should explore implementing this emerging integrated
care model. Hospitals and health systems continue to look for new, innovative ways to deliver high-quality care and keep costs low. In this case study, we described how Project Engage’s model can be replicated in other hospital settings. The learning collaborative between Project Engage, AHCI, and its project partners brought attention to strategies for proper implementation and awareness of potential challenges.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank the staff and management of Brandywine Counseling and Community Services (BCCS), Christiana Care Health System (CCHS), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, the Abuse Services, and Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) who participated in and/or supported this study. Without them, this research and partnership would not have been possible.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
■ ANTHONY LUCAS, MPH is the Manager of Quality Improvement at Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Penn.
■ MARK LANYON, PhD, ICADC, ICCDPD, LCDP, LPC was the Project Engage Clinical Program Manager at the two Christiana Hospitals in Wilmington and Newark, Del.
1. CSH The Source for Housing Solutions. Frequent Users of Health Services Initiative. Available at: http://www.csh.org/csh-solutions/serving- vulnerable-populations/health-systems-users/local-complex-health-needs-work/frequent-users-of-health-services-initiative/.
2. Henry Ford Health System. Most emergency department ‘super-frequent users’ have substance abuse addiction. Science Daily. May 18, 2014.
3. Walley, AY, Paasche-Orlow M, Lee EC, et al. Acute care hospital utilization among medical inpatients. J Addict Med. 2012;6:50-56.
4. White W. Peer-Based Addiction Recovery Support: History, Theory, Practice, and Scientific Evaluation. Chicago, IL: Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center and Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services: 2009.
5. Lanyon M, Wilson B, Horton T. Example of coordinated effort between behavioral health and primary health care. Del Med J. 2016:88;174-176.
6. Christiana Care partners with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to educate hospitals on Project Engage. Christiana Care News. December 16, 2016. Available at: http://news.christianacare.org/2016/12/christiana-care-partners-with-the-substance-abuse-and- mental-health-services-administration-to-educate-hospitals-on-project-engage/
7. Defense Centers of Excellence.Best Practices Identified for Peer Support Programs. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2014.
8. Lanyon M, Booras P. How to Implement a Sustainable Peer Program into Your Health System. November 9, 2016. Webinar.
9. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. What are Peer Recovery Support Services? HHS Publication No. (SMA) 09-4454. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009.
10 Nadeem E, Olin S, Hill L, et al. A literature review of learning collaboratives in mental health care: used but untested. Psychiatr Serv. 2014: 65;1088-1099.
11. IHI: The breaththrough series: IHI’s collaborative model for achieving breakthrough improvement. Cambridge, Mass. Institute for Healthcare Improvement. 2003.
12. Shelenberger, J. Peer navigator program pairs former, current addicts. New Castle News. November 2016.
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