Enhancing Transitions from Addiction Treatment to Primary Care

Abstract

Despite long-standing recommendations that patients with substance use disorders receive primary care, only one-half of patients with substance use disorders receive such care. This article presents a conceptual model to facilitate the transition of patients from addiction treatment to primary care. A narrative review of the healthcare transition literature was conducted with an emphasis on identifying substance use disorder-specific model elements. The resulting model is intended to guide addiction treatment and primary care providers and researchers in understanding factors that impact care coordination between addiction treatment and primary care and to provide an overview of evidence-based methods for supporting this care transition.

KEYWORDS:

• Care transitions
• addiction treatment
• primary care

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the VA.