Launching a Medication-Assisted Treatment in an Outpatient Office-Based Practice

Area of Science:

• Primary Care
• Addiction Medicine
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose deaths are a significant public health crisis in the U.S.
• Primary care settings are crucial for identifying and managing OUD.
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a key evidence-based intervention for OUD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the implementation of MAT within an integrated primary care residency clinic.
• To evaluate primary care provider comfort in assessing OUD risk, discussing MAT, and facilitating referrals.
• To assess the impact of MAT integration on patient access to treatment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a structured implementation process funded by a Health Resources and Services Administration grant.
• Key steps included population assessment, multidisciplinary team engagement, and EHR optimization.
• Provider comfort was measured through surveys assessing key domains of OUD management and MAT referral.

Main Results:

• Integrated MAT into a primary care residency clinic was successfully implemented.
• The program enhanced the accessibility of MAT for patients with OUD.
• Providers reported increased comfort in managing OUD and referring patients to MAT.

Conclusions:

• Integrating MAT into primary care residency programs is feasible and effective.
• A systematic approach and organized structure are vital for successful MAT implementation.
• Embedded MAT services improve patient access to evidence-based OUD treatment in primary care settings.