Department of Psychiatry's Office-based Opioid Treatment Program Recognized by State Official During Recent Visit
The Carilion Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine recently hosted a visit by Dr. Kate Neuhausen, Chief Medical Officer of the VA Dept of Medical Assistance Services, who met with the office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) program health care team. Dr. Neuhausen shared accolades with the department leadership following the visit describing Carilion's OBOT as follows:
"The interprofessional team you have built to provide high quality, evidence-based treatment to patients with Substance Use Disorders is exactly what we envisioned when we created the OBOT model. We were so delighted to hear that you are now serving 241 patients with Opioid Use Disorder. " We were especially proud to find out that under Dr. David Hartman's leadership, we started the first OBOT by any Virginia academic health care center. Dr. Neuhausen also stated: "Carilion Clinic has by far the most comprehensive health care system-wide response to the addiction crisis and the most advanced clinical programs that I have seen at any health system in Virginia."
This high praise is attributable to the Commitment and Compassion of our whole OBOT team and the Peer Recovery Specialists who are helping us be all the more effective with our patients. Every person on this OBOT team is highly valuable and has gone above and beyond to provide care to a highly vulnerable patient population. The OBOT's multidisciplinary approach with its compassionate care coordination, highly committed team, outstanding practice manager, talented nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians, therapists, peer specialists and administration does indeed live up to this recognition. Dr. Neuhausen expressed how impressed she was with the development of the peer recovery program as led by Erin Casey. Seen in the photo are the OBOT team members joined by Erin and several of her fabulous peer recovery specialists. A big WOW deserved by this team!
