Only Cook County in Chicago has a higher rate of opioid overdoses in Illinois than Madison County, and Jersey and Macoupin Counties also rank near the top. Experts say, for people living with opioid addiction, the time between checking out of a hospital and beginning long-term treatment can be dangerous.  A new Illinois initiative is trying to close that gap by funding what is known as “Warm Handoff” programs across the state. 

Alton Memorial Hospital is one of 12 hospitals in Illinois recently awarded grants in the program.  Nine of those hospitals are in the Chicago area. The program brings certified peer recovery specialists (CPRS) inside the hospitals, who then help shepherd opioid users into treatment programs before they can leave the building. AMH will have these specialists housed 24 hours a day within both the Emergency Department and on the medical floors in order to increase the utilization of their unique skill set. Having a CPRS available to each department lends to addiction educational opportunities for the medical staff, and the ability to identify individuals that may benefit from Warm Handoff services. 

“Sadly, those with opioid and other substance use disorders have fallen through the cracks due to limited access to care, few resources and lack of experience identifying and addressing these disorders.” said Meredith Parker, manager of AMH’s Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine. “Our certified specialists are recovering addicts who know the signs, and can speak directly to what patients are experiencing. They are trained to incorporate their unique personal experience in their own recovery as well as their knowledge base in human services.”  

Parker is a licensed clinical social worker. Prior to working at AMH, she supervised a community behavioral health program in St. Louis that provided services to those diagnosed with chronic mental illness and substance use disorders. She has been working in this field for the last 25 years and has extensive experience working in crisis intervention in both EDs and in community-based settings.

She believes the warm handoff approach lends itself to fighting the opioid epidemic. 

“Our physicians have really stepped up,” she said. “They have become DATA-waivered, which allows them to prescribe buprenorphine to patients upon discharge. Buprenorphine is used in medication-assisted treatment to help people quit their use of heroin or other opiates, such as pain relievers like morphine.”

Patients will have the choice to enter the program, but timing is the key. Hospital staff are regularly collaborating with patients and families to create sustainable, individualized treatment plans for every patient that include intervention and referral.

“The lack of resources for those suffering with addictions has been an identified concern during our past two community health needs assessments,” said AMH President Dave Braasch. “Agencies throughout Madison County have echoed the need and will be partnering with us to shore up the treatment process for these patients. This grant parallels our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve.”

AMH will partner with Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (SIHF), which has offices on the hospital campus. SIHF will see patients in its clinic shortly after discharge from the hospital. Dr. Jagannath Patil, a DATA-waivered psychiatrist with SIHF, is serving as the Warm Handoff medical director. An intensive outpatient program will also open this fall and patients will have easier local access to longer-term care.   

These services are supported fully or in part through a State Opioid Response (SOR) grant to the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (TI-081699).  

The core team for Alton Memorial Hospital’s “Warm Handoff” program includes, front row left to right, Elizabeth Bhandari, patient navigator; Meredith Parker, program director; Dr. Jagannath Patil, SIHF, medical director; back row left to right, Kelly Mueller, manager of the AMH Inpatient Pharmacy; Dr. Angela Holbrook of the AMH Emergency Department; and Ty Bechel, a certified peer recovery specialist.