When addiction treatment professionals are able to follow a client from intake through different services and treatments to an outcome, they are said to be following a “Golden Thread” of information. This Golden Thread should be able to “pull” relevant client data from one service or stage of treatment to the next. Proper documentation and…
Sending offenders to rehab instead of prison could have numerous benefits, some research suggests. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation may provide some relief for the ongoing opioid crisis, prison overpopulation, and rising government debt. Drug rehab and addiction treatment for offenders saves money for communities and individuals. An estimated 50 percent of the U.S. prison population…
As opioid overdose plagues many areas of the United States, addiction treatment remains out of reach for many individuals. The result is a growing black market for buprenorphine, used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Buprenorphine in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) MAT combines prescribed medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to help treat opioid use disorders (OUD). The…
Did you know there’s an association for EHR developers in the United States? When looking for an EHR provider, there are good reasons to first consider a member of the Electronic Health Record Association (EHRA). What is EHRA? The EHRA was created in 2004 to help EHR developers collaborate and resolve common concerns among their…
As behavioral health and addiction treatment gets more attention across the nation, Idaho is taking steps to tackle mental health issues. Here’s the latest behavioral-health news across the state. Idaho Receives “F” Grade for Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Coverage Idaho has received an “F” on compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity…
In October 2018, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the accreditation nonprofit CARF International (CARF) announced a partnership to launch a pilot program for certification of addiction treatment programs. The pilot program will assess treatment programs on their ability to adhere to a specific level of care, based on ASAM criteria. To start,…
Provider burnout is increasing across the United States, rising about 20 percent between 2011 and 2014, researchers from Mayo Clinic Proceedings found. This creates health hazards for clinicians and their patients. What is “Burnout”? Generally, burnout is defined as feelings of physical and emotional exhaustion, increased cynicism, lower motivation, and even feelings of pointlessness or…
There are significant risks associated with the long-term use of opioids, yet many patients depend on them for long-term pain management. A growing body of research shows that the right treatment approach can make patients safer, even when using opioids in the long term. Risks of Long-Term Opioid Use Chronic pain affects millions of Americans,…
Kanban is a visual system that helps manage workflow. The word “kanban” is Japanese for “visual signal” or “card.” This system can help teams communicate the work to be done and when to do it, and can help identify and fix bottlenecks to help the work proceed most efficiently. Taiichi Ohno, an industrial engineer for…
Addiction can affect whole families. Here are some tips for getting families on board for treatment. Encourage family involvement in recovery. Because addiction can impact entire families, recovery should involve whole families, as well. Addiction treatment professionals should encourage family members to support the patient seeking recovery. Providers should encourage families to maintain healthy boundaries,…