From: Toedt, Michael (IHS/HQ) <Michael.Toedt@ihs.gov>
Sent: Monday, February 3, 2020 12:04 PM
To: IHS ALL <IHSALL@ihs.gov>
Subject: FREE Tele-Consultation Services for Medication Assisted Treatment Available NOW
The Indian Health Service is excited to highlight a resource for clinicians who have questions about evaluating and managing patients with a substance use disorder diagnosis. The Substance Use Warmline is a free, confidential tele-consultation service that delivers expert recommendations regarding substance use disorder treatment and provides on-demand, tailored clinical guidance to healthcare providers of all experience levels. It is available to all providers practicing in IHS, tribal, and urban facilities.
The Substance Use Warmline is operated by the Clinician Consultation Center at the University of California, San Francisco. The Warmline is staffed by expert physicians, clinical pharmacists, and advanced practice nurses who possess over 25 years of accumulated experience providing expert, practical guidance to clinicians across the nation.
The Warmline can help to:
- Provide on-demand assistance to providers nationwide – regardless of the complexity of the clinical scenario
- Offer clinical guidance on developing a medical treatment plan for people who suffer from substance use disorders, including: opioids, alcohol, and other substances
- Build your skills, capacity, and confidence with evaluating and treating substance use
- Assist with review of proposed clinic policies and procedures as well as share resources and guidance to support Medication Assisted Treatment services in your facility
Through a partnership between the IHS and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, the Clinical Consultation Center will provide evaluation reports regarding use of the Warmline to better target resources in the future. The center will also provide guidance for IHS, tribal, and urban Indian facilities that want to establish an integrated office-based Medication Assisted Treatment service.
Please use this valuable resource to assist your facility and healthcare teams with meeting the requirements established in SGM 19-01 Assuring Access to Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Please visit www.ihs.gov/opioids for more information related to IHS Opioid Response activities and to access resources to assist with establishing best and promising practices in the treatment planning for patients with opioid use disorder diagnosis.
Sincerely yours,
RADM Michael Toedt, M.D., F.A.A.F.P
Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS
IHS Chief Medical Officer
