Partnership Connects Addiction Disorder Patients To Treatment

A new partnership to improve access to substance use disorder and mental health treatment was announced today. Open Beds, the state’s Family and Social Services Administration, FSSA and Indiana 2-1-1 have teamed on a new online platform.

Finding the right care for the right person at the right time is the goal of the partnership that provides a website for providers to locate treatment options when they’re needed.

FSSA Secretary Jennifer Walthall says providers ask people with addictions disorders if they want help.

"When the answer is ‘yes’ it really needs to be immediately followed with the whole kit and caboodle of how that works," says Walthall. 

The Open Beds software service program identifies and unifies treatment and social services options. Walthall says 2-1-1 adds the social services connection.

"Making sure that individuals can get to appointments or have medication that they can get to the pharmacy or have a place to sleep," says Walthall, "those sorts of things are almost as important the referral itself."

READ MORE: When An Overdose Becomes A Gateway To Recovery

Eskenazi Dr. Krista Brucker runs Project Point a program that aims to connect patients in the ER who have just overdosed with treatment while they are there. She says that can be very difficult.

"Multiple phone calls to multiple different places, a lot of emails and if you can believe it faxes still going around to try and get people the care they need," says Brucker. 

Brucker’s team has been testing the program and says it’s been very effective. The web tool is live for providers across Indiana and will continue to add resources.

The online tool is funded by through federal grant money.  Indiana has increased residential treatment capacity by 26 percent in the past year and a half.