University of Maryland Shore Regional Health has entered into an agreement with the A. F. Whitsitt Center to collaborate in providing expedited substance abuse treatment for patients who present in the UM SRH emergency departments due to overdose and/or are admitted to inpatient care for stabilization after overdose. This agreement will improve patient access to much needed rehabilitative care that provides a stronger footing for recovery.
As described in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on April 17, 2017, this agreement is designed to ensure that whenever possible and appropriate, patients with severe substance use disorders have access to direct hospital-to-rehabilitation transfers upon discharge from emergency or inpatient care at UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton, and UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown.
Under the terms of the MOU, the obligations of UM SRH emergency and inpatient care physicians and advanced care providers are as follows:
1. Identify patients in any UM SRH facility who would benefit from and agree to inpatient drug rehabilitation treatment at the A. F. Whitsitt Center. Patients appropriate for transfer to the Whitsitt Center meet the following criteria:
o he or she has received post-opioid overdose treatment in the Emergency Department and/or has been admitted to a medical unit for treatment and stabilization of conditions related to addiction/substance abuse;
o he or she has voluntarily agreed to treatment at the Whitsitt Center.
2. Contact identified Whitsitt Center staff between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 a.m. regarding patients appropriate for transfer to the Center.
3. Complete the Whitsitt Center referral form (attached with this message and available at http://intra.umms.org/shore/nursingpcs/care-coordination/forms and fax it to the attention of Alice Barkley, 410-778-7002.
4. Make every reasonable effort to ensure that patients are appropriately stabilized for transfer to the Whitsitt Center.
In turn, the A.F. Whitsitt Center staff and Kent County Recovery Support team have the following responsibilities:
1. Whenever possible, to speak to the identified patient personally or by phone.
2. To consult with hospital and/or emergency center staff to arrange an appointment for the patient’s admission to the A.F. Whitsitt Center.
3. To admit appropriate referrals in the next available treatment opening, usually to commence within 48 hours.
Questions regarding this agreement may be directed to Eric Anderson, MD, medical director, Shore Behavioral Health, if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions.