February 11-13, 2019

Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, New York

SOMOS will participate in the fourth annual New York Statewide DSRIP Learning Symposium to showcase the organization’s efforts and strategies to help the state achieve its goal to reduce avoidable hospital visits by 25% by 2020. The delegation will present on SOMOS’s BUPE program that is transforming the lives of numerous patients struggling with opioid addiction through a medical appointment approach, a model that provides patients with peer support and substance abuse education in a primary care office.

Dr. Ponieman, CMO and Martine Baron, Director of Care Management will present on SOMOS’s BUPE program that is transforming the lives of numerous patients struggling with opioid addiction through a medical appointment approach, a model that provides patients with peer support and substance abuse education in a primary care office.

BUPRENORPHINE

 (BUPE)

 INITIATIVE

BUPRENORPHINE

(BUPE)

INITIATIVE

Summary: Across the United States, the Opioid Use Disorder has become a public health crisis. In West Harlem, SOMOS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Diego Ponieman launched the “BUPE Group” in 2017 at Metropolis Medical Office to provide patients battling addiction with options for treatment within their primary care. This program uses a Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) approach, which allows primary care physicians to treat patients with Substance Abuse Disorders (SUD) and offer wrap-around SUD services such as substance abuse education, peer support, and counseling in a safe and confidential environment. As a result, patients have reported their satisfaction with the program. Patients have been able to rehabilitate and return to school, find employment and support their recovery efforts while managing their medical conditions.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE WORK-FLOW

PATIENT’S ENROLLMENT INTO THE SUD SMA

TRAINING

STAFF TRAINING TO EDUCATE THE CLINICAL TEAM ON

  • How to assess for Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
  • Opioid Misues
  • Buprenorphine
  • Naltrexone use
  • SBIRT
  • BUPE group implementation plans
  • Community based SUD providers roles
  • Referral process for SUD patients
  • Coding for SUD

COLLABORATION

Partnership with community-based substance abuse provider – VIP for bi-directional referral and

  • How to assess for Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
  • provide an SUD peer to participate in
    the SMA
  • provide additional support for patients
    in SMA
  • provides inpatient detox referral and
    other intensive services not available
    at PCP setting

TREATMENT

Shared Medical appointment approach for Buprenorphine.

BUPE
GROUP

TESTIMONIALS

“The BUPE Group” is a Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) approach to treating patients with Substance Abuse Disorders (SUD).

“I like the BUPE Group better than going to a clinic every day. It’s very convenient to go to the doctor’s office once a month, especially since I have trouble walking – so this has helped me a lot. It got me off methadone for a year.” -61 year old female Bronx resident


“I highly recommend this group. It has worked for me, allowing me to go back to work and continue treatment.” -49 year old male Bronx resident


“They listen to you and really want to help you. Taking BUPE has kept me off the streets and has helped me to get my life back on track.” -57 year old male Bronx resident