IHSI’s treatment integration initiatives provide healthcare professionals with knowledge, skills, tools, and support to successfully implement novel interventions to improve treatment-related service delivery. The PA MOUD Technical Assistance and Quality Improvement Expansion project is the cornerstone program for this area. The project aims to improve medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment capacity, quality, and patient volume within clinics that are prescribing MOUD though the provision of data-driven concierge technical assistance.

All Pathways, All People Project

Three County Map of PAThe All Pathways, All People Project, formerly known as Three-County Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Pilot Project, is a collaborative effort between the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and PERU. DDAP funds the project to develop and implement a comprehensive, community-based program for adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) in Allegheny, Lackawanna, and Northumberland Counties. The project aims to improve access to high-quality and individually tailored MOUD, psychosocial treatment, and other needed treatments or services, to improve health and recovery.

Project Advisory Group:

The All Pathways, All People advisory group brings together diverse stakeholders from PERU, state, and local agencies to ensure effective program development, communication, and collaboration with existing initiatives across the Commonwealth. The advisory group reviews materials and protocols developed for the project and provides feedback, resources, and tools for completing all deliverables and proposed activities.

Current Partners:

All Pathways, All People started in August 2022 and has established project partners in each of the three counties.

Four people having a discussion

Report Archive

Allegheny County
Lackawanna County
Northumberland County

 

PA MOUD Expansion Project

The PA MOUD expansion project, formerly known as Rural Access to MAT in Pennsylvania (RAMP), is currently funded to operate in all counties within Pennsylvania. The innovations deployed throughout the program include: capacity building, electronic health record integration, MOUD performance measurement and quality improvement, training and education, clinical assessments, physical/behavioral health screenings, and patient-centered interventions.

PA County Map

For a detailed description of the project’s specific objectives and implementation strategies, please view the Pennsylvania Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Technical Assistance and Quality Improvement Expansion Project Overview. An archived version of the RAMP program website is available for reference. Please complete the contact form at the bottom of this page if you are interested in receiving more information about the project or hosting a project site.

PA MOUD Expansion outcomes to date include:

  • 99 clinical providers and staff trained in 2021 on MOUD, SBIRT, and related topics.
  • 51 MOUD prescribers across project partner sites with 92% prescribing buprenorphine and 100% prescribing naltrexone.
  • 2,140 patients treated with MOUD (buprenorphine or naltrexone) at partner sites in 2021 with an estimated total capacity of 2,620 buprenorphine treatment slots.
  • 48% of patients who initiated buprenorphine in 2021 were retained in treatment to the 90-day mark or longer.

PA MOUD Expansion Publications

Learn more about PA MOUD Expansion’s outcomes through our publications.

PA MOUD Expansion Project Partners include:

– Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS)
– Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP)
– University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Western Psychiatric Hospital
– PA Opioid Use Disorder Centers of Excellence (COE)
– PA Single County Authorities (SCA)

Visit the IHSI homepage to learn more about our full funding portfolio and program areas.

Pennsylvania Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (PA SBIRT) Project

The PA SBIRT Program was a five-year initiative beginning in September 2016. The PA SBIRT Project website is available for reference.

The PA SBIRT Program was funded by SAMHSA from September 2016 through September 2022. The Program Vision was to ensure that every patient in our primary care clinics receives the right SBIRT services by the right providers every time.

This short video features a program overview and interviews with key stakeholders in Blair County, PA.

PA SBIRT Outcomes:Intake counseling session

  • Increased access to appropriate SUD and MOUD services at participating sites
  • Reduced the number of patients presenting with SUD in participating counties
  • Integrated SBIRT into electronic health records and existing workflows at participating sites
  • Increased the number of healthcare professionals trained to proficiency in the provision of SBIRT services at participating sites
  • Provided education and advocate for state reimbursement for the provision of SBIRT services.

SBIRT counseling sessionPA SBIRT Partners:

– Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP)
– Blair County Drug & Alcohol Program (BDAP)
– Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission (MCBHC)
– Allegheny County Department of Human Services

PA SBIRT Success Stories:

  • A patient had been using her partner’s suboxone when she found out she was pregnant. The patient scored in the referral to treatment range for suboxone and cannabis use was assessed by the Care Coordinator and is currently attending outpatient treatment. The patient recently gave birth and is interested in becoming a Certified Recovery Specialist to help others with similar experiences. The patient is very thankful for the SBIRT program and meets with the care coordinator at every visit.
  • A patient did not reveal 15 years of substance use (opiates and heroin) until her 5th screening at the primary care practice. She remarked that she began to feel more comfortable over time and realized that the office was truly concerned with providing her the best healthcare possible. Previously, she had been scared by legal consequences and confidentiality issues. After repeated screenings, she felt the conversation was normalized and that she wasn’t being judged or pressured, and she was able to open up about her use. Her provider noted that nothing in her medical or social history would have otherwise prompted this conversation. She has been enrolled in MAT and has not relapsed for 7 months.
  • One patient shared “I was just talking to my son about my alcohol use yesterday. I know I need to cut back. I am so thankful for this [SBIRT] today. This is another sign that it is time for me to get healthy and take my use [alcohol] seriously. I am thankful that there are programs like this that help intervene.” The patient scored in the brief treatment range for alcohol use, was assessed by the care coordinator and is now enrolled in a 1A-Outpatient level of care.

Visit the IHSI homepage to learn more about our full funding portfolio and program areas.