MATTERS (Medication for Addiction Treatment and Electronic Referrals) is excited to announce its partnership with REACH (Respectful, Equitable Access to Compassionate Health Care) Medical, the first low-threshold harm reduction medical practice in Ithaca, NY. REACH Medical compliments the MATTERS Network well by allowing patients to attend their follow-up appointments for Medications for Addiction Treatment like buprenorphine (Suboxone) virtually from any location via telephone, tablet, or computer. This partnership will now offer patients from anywhere across the state to choose a virtual outpatient MAT clinic, most notably improving access for patients in rural or hard-to-reach areas.
The MATTERS Network has also partnered with two virtual emergency departments in Western New York to connect patients to providers from home and facilitate these referrals electronically. Individuals in opioid withdrawal can connect to virtual care in as little as one hour to receive an evaluation, medication prescription (as applicable) and a referral to outpatient treatment. These resources not only decrease risk of COVID transmission; offering telemedicine options increases the potential for patients’ long-term success in that it addresses common barriers to care, such as inconsistent transportation or financial burden. Patients from across New York State can utilize this resource to be evaluated for substance use disorder and receive their referral to an outpatient MAT clinic. These partnerships bring the MATTERS concept full circle, offering patients the ability to choose what type of care works best for them from start to finish.
