Addiction Consultation Service: Effects on Return Visits to the Emergency Department.

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health
• Healthcare Services Research

Background:

• Substance use disorder poses a significant public health challenge, often leading to emergency department (ED) visits.
• Effective interventions are crucial for managing substance use disorder and preventing recurrent healthcare utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an Addiction Consultation Service in connecting patients with substance use disorder to resources.
• To compare 90-day ED return rates for patients who consented to versus declined an addiction consultation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the Addiction Consult Service database from February to September 2023.
• Inclusion of patients evaluated for substance-related concerns in the ED.
• Comparison of ED return rates based on consent to addiction consultation and treatment plan.

Main Results:

• Of 258 eligible subjects, most were admitted inpatient (65.3%); 202/227 patients received an addiction consultation.
• 73.3% of patients receiving a consultation consented to the suggested treatment plan.
• Patients consenting to the treatment plan had significantly fewer ED visits for substance use within 30 days (p<0.0001).

Conclusions:

• In-hospital addiction consultations are associated with reduced 30-day ED revisits for substance use disorder.
• Targeted follow-up and comprehensive treatment plans are essential for long-term reduction in repeat ED visits.
• Specialty addiction services play a vital role in improving patient outcomes and managing substance use disorder effectively.