Having an established professional referral network for addiction treatment is becoming increasingly critical for healthcare providers. Almost 23 million people in the U.S. needed treatment for substance addiction in 2013.1 As the opioid crisis continues and the number of people suffering with addiction increases, many first-line healthcare providers will be tasked with the job of helping many of their patients find specialized treatment for addiction.
By creating a professional referral network for addiction treatment, practitioners can better serve their patients’ needs.
Building Your Referral Network for Addiction Treatment
Healthcare providers can better serve patients by having an established referral network for addiction treatment. By creating a referral network for addiction treatment, practitioners will have ready information and resources to provide to patients who are struggling with substance abuse or addiction.
Patients are best served when their treatment is delivered through integrated agencies.2 When doctors, counselors and treatment plans are fragmented, the patient suffers. By establishing a referral network for addiction treatment, first-line healthcare providers can ensure their patients receive integrated treatment that isn’t pieced together after the fact.
Establish Contacts in Addiction Treatment
Taking time to build a referral network for addiction treatment will better serve your patients. There are many ways to construct your network. First, it’s important to attend continuing-education seminars, conferences and community workshops on the topic of addiction and addiction treatment. These events provide opportunities to network and establish regional contacts.
Healthcare practitioners can also contact addiction treatment centers to proactively establish a professional relationship. By taking time to learn about each facility’s services, their admissions process and other pertinent information, practitioners will be better positioned to help their patients get into a high-quality treatment program right away.
It doesn’t take long to build a referral network for addiction treatment, and treatment center staff can often help. Once these contacts are established, healthcare providers will be able to actively help their patients get the specialized care they need, rather than merely hoping they find an appropriate program and successfully beging treatment.
A Referral Network for Addiction Treatment Is Part of the Solution
Addiction is a chronic but treatable disease. Timely care is crucial to managing substance addiction, and a referral network for addiction treatment can be the key to getting patients from your office into a high-quality addiction treatment center.