• Healthcare

Telehealth With IA Improves Addiction Recovery

May 30, 2023

An addiction medicine practice in Fishers, Indiana, has achieved remarkable success in its medication-assisted treatment program using a new technology developed by Atadas, a telehealth medication monitoring technology company.

Dr. Peter Farr, who runs the practice and is co-founder of Atadas, reported that over two years, 94% of the 100 patients in the program remained engaged, compared to a previous attrition rate of 54% without the technology.

The opioid epidemic, now in its third decade, calls for better solutions to treat patients and support their recovery.

With a $50 billion opioid settlement fund being dispersed to states, funds can be allocated to qualifying organizations that effectively address the crisis. To tackle this issue, Dr. Farr and his team focused on four key areas: patient engagement, virtual care, medication adherence, and compliance data collection. Their goal was to streamline processes and eliminate manual, paper-driven methods.

The mobile app developed by Atadas plays a crucial role in keeping patients connected to their treatment and physicians. It ensures positive outcomes by promoting patient engagement and providing tools for virtual care. The app offers medication reminders, dosage logs, and random pill counts to improve medication adherence.

Additionally, it facilitates compliance by collecting necessary data and documentation required in addiction medicine, such as consent forms and clinic appointments.

One of the notable advantages of the technology is its ability to address the challenges faced by providers in the addiction medicine field.

Unlike electronic health records (EHRs), which primarily manage clinical encounters, Atadas’ platform combines patient engagement, medication adherence, virtual care, and compliance, offering a comprehensive solution tailored to medication-assisted treatment programs.

Data and outcomes back the success of Atadas’ technology.

Initial pilots with 256 patients showed a 95% acceptance rate, indicating a positive response from patients.

Over two years, 94% of the new-start opioid use disorder patients remained in the medication-assisted treatment program, compared to an attrition rate of 54% before the technology’s implementation.

Dr. Farr attributes this success to increased patient retention, reduced compliance costs, and improved efficiency in documentation processes.

Three key technology trends have contributed to the value of addiction medicine: telehealth, patient data interoperability, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the effectiveness of telehealth models in addiction treatment, with Atadas incorporating remote telehealth-based medication monitoring into its platform.

Patient data interoperability, facilitated by technologies like Data as a Service (DaaS), enhances access to patient health history and enables disease surveillance across populations.

Moreover, AI capabilities assist in managing opioid use disorder (OUD) by analyzing data and providing insights for improved care. Atadas’ innovative approach has garnered attention beyond Dr. Farr’s practice and has been adopted by multistate clinic providers seeking to enhance patient engagement and medication adherence.

The technology has significantly reduced the time spent on documentation, pill counts, and inpatient follow-ups, leading to increased efficiency and cost savings.

Dr. Farr advises healthcare providers to invest in patient-centered technologies that foster accountability and engagement. By leveraging technology, healthcare professionals can improve patient outcomes, increase efficiency, and play a pivotal role in tackling the opioid epidemic.

The ultimate goal is to support patients and their families throughout the recovery journey, celebrating their achievements and ensuring lasting success in overcoming addiction.

Sources:
https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/addiction-recovery-provider-sees-success-ai-enabled-telehealth-meds-monitoring