Recovery Month
The month of September is recognized as Recovery Month in order to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible. This year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Connections,” embraces the challenges experienced in 2020.
Barriers to Treatment
Unfortunately, many patients do not have convenient access to specialists who can diagnose and treat substance abuse and mental health. Moreover, there is a nationwide shortage of specialists in this field. “Right now we’re in a severe workforce crisis,” said Becky Vaughn, addictions director for the industry organization National Council for Behavioral Health. The shortage has consequences, she said. “When people need help for addictions, they need it right away. There’s no such thing as a waiting list. If you put someone on a waiting list, you won’t be able to find them the next day.”
Regular access to ongoing care is also a barrier to treatment. Due to the chronic nature of substance use disorders, patients are advised to remain connected to clinicians and support over extended periods of time. However, patients may skip follow-up appointments if the timing and location is inconvenient or inaccessible on a regular basis. In addition, patients may forego entering treatment as well as continuing treatment if they are fear that entering established treatment clinics may negatively impact their reputation / professional standing within the local community if they are recognized.
The current pandemic presents new barriers for people with substance use disorders (SUD) and in recovery. Self-quarantine and other physical distancing measures may limit access to support services which are crucial as social isolation is a risk factor for relapse. People in recovery may have limited access to meetings of peer-support groups and other sources of social connection.
Addressing Barriers with Virtual Care
With Synzi’s telehealth and virtual care platform, providers can expand patient access to treatment by:
- Providing pre-admission care to patients to help them start treatment and ultimately reach out to an appropriate specialist and/or facility if more intensive treatment as needed
- Including family members in virtual counseling appointments
- Hosting virtual meetings for those who cannot peer-support groups in-person
- Helping patients in rural areas access needed care without requiring travel time and expense
- Offering continuous support with bidirectional communication and encouraging email or text messages
- Addressing LEP patients’ communication needs by including a medically certified interpreter in the video call and translating messaging into the patients’ preferred language
By giving patients better access to coping skills and specialized support, providers can improve the quality, timing, and frequency of care for patients with an SUD.