Expanded MAT Services for Hard-to-Reach Populations - The Wright Center (TWC) will focus on four populations: individuals involved with the criminal justice system, pregnant women, veterans, and the elderly. Over 1,550 patients and 302 professionals will be served at the end of the three-year project. The project focuses on but is not limited to Lackawanna County (pop. 214,437), which had the worst Total Rank Score in PA’s 2015 MAT Underserved Areas list. TWC’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence will increase the number of individuals receiving MAT and supported in long-term recovery services and decrease the number of individuals using an illicit drug or misusing a prescription opioid after six months by providing a comprehensive integrated approach to addressing the opioid epidemic that builds upon its established Vermont hub-and-spoke model and infrastructure, which support a coordinated systematic response to the complex issues of opiate and other addictions. Project activities extend throughout the criminal justice system, emergency departments, and first responders. Partners include Lackawanna County (Court of Common Pleas treatment courts, prison, Agency on Aging, Department of Human Services Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Single County Authority), Maternal and Family Health Services, Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Justice Outreach Program, and the Scranton Police Department. Objectives: by the end of the three-year project, 1) MAT and recovery support services will be provided to over 1,200 individuals involved with the criminal justice system using the Vermont hub-and-spoke model to deliver a whole-person intervention including mental and physical healthcare, case management (navigation), self-help, pain management, and referrals for social supports such as housing, job training, and life skills with a smooth, efficient, and reliable means of transferring patients between care modalities; 2) approximately 100+ women and babies will be provided pregnancy recovery care and support services using the Magee Women’s Hospital pregnancy recovery center model; 3) 150+ veterans with an OUD and/or involved with the criminal justice system will have received MAT and supporting services; 4) 90% of staff in Area Agency on Aging will have participated in training and education to better understand, respond to, and prevent OUD in seniors; and 5) 24/7 access to certified recovery specialists for warm handoffs for treatment and resources will be integrated into Scranton Police Department first responder functions and Scranton emergency departments, especially for those revived with NARCAN, linking 300+ individuals to MAT and support services. Continuous quality improvement and formative evaluation is embedded in activities. Data collection and monitoring is compliant with federal, state, local, and human subjects protection in research regulations. Sustainability will be achieved through third-party billing and institutionalizing positions and functions. TWC has a comprehensive risk mitigation plan and treatment regimen in place that is less susceptible to diversion and requests the 5 additional points.
