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Treating OUD with medications can be more effective when providers collaborate with others to provide whole-patient care. See below for tools for coordinating care across providers and linking patients to community resources that support recovery. These strategies help ensure patients receive comprehensive, connected care tailored to their evolving needs.
Care Coordination and Patient Referral Sources
With complex OUD patients, it helps to know and collaborate with providers in other settings. Build partnerships across the community, referring patients to more intensive services when needed and offering MOUD maintenance to patients who started buprenorphine with other providers.
Embrace Coordinated Care
Coordinate care across providers and systems (with patient consent) to ensure continuity of care and address complex patient needs.
Refer to Higher Levels of Care
When patients require more intensive treatment than a practice can provide, use structured referral protocols and maintain communication to ensure safe and effective transitions.
Seek Referrals for MOUD Maintenance
Consider accepting patients referred for MOUD maintenance by hospitals, jails, and residential programs. This bypasses the challenge of starting buprenorphine while narrowing the treatment gap.
Community Resources And Recovery Supports
Recovery from OUD is supported not only by medications but also by access to community-based services. Learn how to identify and connect patients to resources that address housing, employment, social support, and other practical needs that promote long-term recovery.
Identify Recovery Supports and Develop Partnerships
Community-based (and virtual) recovery supports help patients meet their basic needs while supporting their recovery. Aim to know what recovery supports are available in your community and ideally foster a relationship with these systems.