Old tech but not low tech: telephone-based treatment provision for substance use
The future of telemedicine for substance use treatment hangs by a thread, as the United States awaits approval of proposed regulations and laws to increase care access in light of the 2022 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revisions allowing for audio-only care. Telemedicine improves patien...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1351816/full |
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author | Mary R. Walton Augustine W. Kang Courtney DelaCuesta Ariel Hoadley Rosemarie Martin |
author_facet | Mary R. Walton Augustine W. Kang Courtney DelaCuesta Ariel Hoadley Rosemarie Martin |
author_sort | Mary R. Walton |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The future of telemedicine for substance use treatment hangs by a thread, as the United States awaits approval of proposed regulations and laws to increase care access in light of the 2022 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revisions allowing for audio-only care. Telemedicine improves patient care access and outcomes. Audio-only telemedicine can be an effective and viable modality for individuals without technology resources (devices, internet services, and literacy), those with reduced telehealth service utilization (Black individuals or those with unstable housing, who are older, with low income, or with low education), and those living in rural locations. Studies suggest that telephone visits for buprenorphine treatment are well-accepted by patients and providers, making telephone visits essential in care access to reduce disparities. Telephone counseling for patients in substance use treatment is convenient, flexible, and empowering and can augment therapeutic alliances and treatment goals. Both providers and patients advocate for patient-centered hybrid care to include telephone-only treatment, which enhances service productivity and care access; reduces no-show rates, costs, and stigma; and is sustainable. Numerous solutions can expand technology access, proficiency, assimilation, and trust. Despite being “old” technology, the telephone remains an essential resource for substance use treatment. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:40:11Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-29892d1e05a8406ca92f395b4dcf65ef |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1664-0640 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:40:11Z |
publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
record_format | Article |
series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
spelling | doaj.art-29892d1e05a8406ca92f395b4dcf65ef2024-03-19T04:49:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402024-03-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.13518161351816Old tech but not low tech: telephone-based treatment provision for substance useMary R. Walton0Augustine W. Kang1Courtney DelaCuesta2Ariel Hoadley3Rosemarie Martin4CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, Cranston, RI, United StatesRosemarie Martin Laboratory, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesRosemarie Martin Laboratory, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesRosemarie Martin Laboratory, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesRosemarie Martin Laboratory, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesThe future of telemedicine for substance use treatment hangs by a thread, as the United States awaits approval of proposed regulations and laws to increase care access in light of the 2022 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revisions allowing for audio-only care. Telemedicine improves patient care access and outcomes. Audio-only telemedicine can be an effective and viable modality for individuals without technology resources (devices, internet services, and literacy), those with reduced telehealth service utilization (Black individuals or those with unstable housing, who are older, with low income, or with low education), and those living in rural locations. Studies suggest that telephone visits for buprenorphine treatment are well-accepted by patients and providers, making telephone visits essential in care access to reduce disparities. Telephone counseling for patients in substance use treatment is convenient, flexible, and empowering and can augment therapeutic alliances and treatment goals. Both providers and patients advocate for patient-centered hybrid care to include telephone-only treatment, which enhances service productivity and care access; reduces no-show rates, costs, and stigma; and is sustainable. Numerous solutions can expand technology access, proficiency, assimilation, and trust. Despite being “old” technology, the telephone remains an essential resource for substance use treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1351816/fullsubstance use disorder treatmentopioid treatmenttelemedicineaudio-onlytelephonehybrid approach |
spellingShingle | Mary R. Walton Augustine W. Kang Courtney DelaCuesta Ariel Hoadley Rosemarie Martin Old tech but not low tech: telephone-based treatment provision for substance use Frontiers in Psychiatry substance use disorder treatment opioid treatment telemedicine audio-only telephone hybrid approach |
title | Old tech but not low tech: telephone-based treatment provision for substance use |
title_full | Old tech but not low tech: telephone-based treatment provision for substance use |
title_fullStr | Old tech but not low tech: telephone-based treatment provision for substance use |
title_full_unstemmed | Old tech but not low tech: telephone-based treatment provision for substance use |
title_short | Old tech but not low tech: telephone-based treatment provision for substance use |
title_sort | old tech but not low tech telephone based treatment provision for substance use |
topic | substance use disorder treatment opioid treatment telemedicine audio-only telephone hybrid approach |
url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1351816/full |
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