title: Establishment of a multidisciplinary Health Evaluation and Linkage to Primary care (HELP) clinic in a detoxification unit.
abstract: We evaluated the feasibility of establishing a multidisciplinary Health Evaluation and Linkage to Primary care (HELP) clinic at an urban residential detoxification unit. Patients received a clinical evaluation and facilitated linkage to primary medical care including personalized referral, reminders, and appointment rescheduling. Of 235 adults reporting alcohol, cocaine or heroin as first or second drug of choice and without a primary care physician, 178 (76%) received a full HELP clinic evaluation, 35 (15%) some clinic components, and 7 (3%) only a primary care appointment. Of those with a full evaluation, 28% received pneumococcal vaccination, and most received health behavior counseling. Over the subsequent 2 years, 131 (60%) of the 220 patients whom had any contact with the HELP clinic had at least one primary care visit. A multidisciplinary health clinic to evaluate patients during detoxification is feasible and can link patients with substance dependence to primary medical care.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Luann P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Samet
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012947:Social Work; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration