Funding will be used to develop curriculum for primary care providers to help treat opioid use disorder in their communities
MOREHEAD, Kentucky (June 4, 2019) — The Kentucky Regional Health Information Organization (KRHIO) is one of only eight organizations in the state — 120 nationwide — to receive a $200,000 grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration that focuses on prevention, treatment and recovery for opioid use disorder.
With this one-year grant, KRHIO will develop a curriculum to improve care by giving primary care providers knowledge they need to treat opioid use disorder in their own communities, without the need for a specialist referral.
“The opioid epidemic has taken a serious toll on our region,” said Scott Lilley, KRHIO executive director. “Our ultimate goal is to provide rural providers with the necessary tools and training that will help them overcome obstacles preventing them from treating those struggling with addiction.”
The curriculum will be based on a model called Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), which was pioneered in New Mexico in 2003 by Sanjeev Arora, M.D. Arora was frustrated his patients could not receive hepatitis C treatment where they lived, so he created Project ECHO to ensure all patients could receive the care they need.
KRHIO’s project will offer training related to the prevention and treatment of opioid use disorder. Specifically, it will include an educational module on alternate pain management techniques and medication-assisted treatment.
During teleECHO clinics, an interdisciplinary team of experts will videoconference with primary care providers. Subject matter experts present brief presentations and primary care clinicians present patient cases to the specialist team and to each other, discuss new developments relating to their patients, and determine treatment. Through this case-based learning model, participants acquire new skills and knowledge that enable them to better treat their patients, improving health outcomes within the community.
“Our focus will be on providing services to rural healthcare providers in Appalachian Kentucky to address the shortage of providers and services, and to increase access to medication-assisted treatment and recovery services for low-income, medically underserved residents,” Lilley said.
KRHIO helps rural healthcare practices put tools in place to maintain efficiency, compliance and profitability. From electronic health record support to HIPAA security and Patient-Centered Medical Home certification, the staff at KRHIO is a comprehensive resource for rural health clinics in their quest to provide quality care. Learn more about our services.