What is Medication Assisted Treatment?

At ISBH, Medication Assisted Treatment is the use of medication to treat opioid use disorder.

Types of Opioids are:

• Fentanyl
• Heroin
• Hydrocodone
• Morphine
• Oxycodone
• Others

MAT for Opioid Use Disorder does not treat those dealing with Stimulant Use Disorders, Alcohol Use Disorder, Sedative/Hypnotic/Anxiolytic and other use disorders.

People struggling with Opioid Use Disorder and seeking MAT may be experiencing withdrawal symptoms, cravings, relational and financial strain due to use, impairment of functioning in important areas of life such as parenting, employment, paying bills, etc.

A couple approaches to starting our Medication Assisted Treatment Program

Traditional Approach:  A new MAT appointment is referred to Amber Self through the Adult Psych referral form where she will conduct an intake. After intake an appointment is made for the office in the client’s county of residence where they will come in, give a UDS and pregnancy test, if applicable and see a prescriber on Microsoft Teams.

New Home-Based Approach:  A home based induction is scheduled, allowing for shorter wait times and assistance to the client by bringing the appointment to them. Especially helpful to those who lack transportation and internet phone service.

Step 1: The new patient will complete a telehealth intake with Amber Self who you will complete a short Doxy assessment and program orientation; later that day they will complete a short health and physical Doxy call with a prescriber who will then write orders for medication for the following day, if appropriate. (existing patients will follow same process with Amber minus a new intake part 1)

Step 2: On the following day a peer supporter team of 2 will arrive at the patient’s home and connect the patient to a video call with a nurse and deliver medication. (In Franklin County the peer team will assist the patient in getting to the office for initiation in program if preferred) The nurse will do a few short check-ins with the patient online as she observes the patient taking their Suboxone. She will monitor for breakthrough withdrawal symptoms.

Advantages to the new home-based MAT program:

• Wait times can be up to one month for traditional (office based) MAT appointments. The goal of home-based MAT is to get patients into induction slots within 4 business days of referral.
• Not having transportation or internet connection will not keep a client from engaging in this program-we bring the program to the client.
• The treatment team of peers, counselors and Nurse Practitioners will meet weekly to address struggling clients in supportive ways. “Adding before we take away” is our approach and we will endeavor to wrap support around clients so that we can avoid discharge from program, avoid disruption of medications and aide patients in reaching goals for recovery. The new program comes with peer supporters who will engage in the recovery journey with the client to foster hope, broker resources and to provide a wraparound approach to MAT.

**The referral process does not change with either program:

Whether the client is currently being served at ISBH or not, an Adult Psychiatric Referral is the way to initiate MAT services. Please be sure to indicate Opioid Use Disorder in the form.