Process Mapping to Support the Implementation of a Regional Strategy to Address the Opioid Epidemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Addressing the opioid epidemic in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Implementing a referral system to peer recovery coaches (PRCs) for opioid use disorder (OUD).
• Referrals primarily originated from emergency departments, linking clients to recovery support.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate and enhance the implementation of a PRC referral program.
• Utilize process mapping across three local health systems.
• Identify critical steps, barriers, and facilitators in program delivery.

Main Methods:

• Employed a five-phase conceptual framework and three development/implementation domains.
• Conducted interviews with providers, administrators, and PRCs.
• Validated process maps through serial meetings and distilled key processes.

Main Results:

• Developed detailed, health system-specific process maps.
• Created a high-level process map to guide future implementation.
• Identified conceptually coherent elements across systems forming a recovery ecosystem.

Conclusions:

• Systematic assessment across health systems revealed critical implementation steps.
• Barriers and facilitators to program implementation were identified.
• Findings can inform understanding of care processes and guide future efforts.