Telephonic Outreach to Engage Patients with Substance Use Disorder Post-Hospitalization During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health
• Telehealth

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated adaptations in healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Patients with substance use disorder (SUD) require continuous support, which was challenged by pandemic-related disruptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an expanded telephonic outreach program for patients with SUD post-hospitalization.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of enhanced post-discharge support during the initial COVID-19 surge.

Main Methods:

• A public hospital's Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals (CATCH) program implemented enhanced telephonic outreach.
• Peer support specialists and addiction counselors contacted 329 patients from October 2019 to March 2020.
• Outreach included counseling, peer support, and referrals to substance use services (SUS).

Main Results:

• CATCH staff successfully reached 29.5% of patients.
• Of those reached, 77.6% received supportive counseling and referrals.
• Challenges included inactive phone numbers (30%) and low reach for patients experiencing homelessness (8%).

Conclusions:

• Expanded telephonic outreach offers a low-barrier connection to SUS for patients with addiction.
• This model is potentially valuable during and after public health emergencies.
• Future interventions should integrate social determinants like housing and phone access to improve outcomes.