Carol
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*ADMINISTRATOR*
Forum Queen
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Posts: 3247
Registered: Jan 2005 |
 Posted April 23rd, 2006 05:38 PM IP   
Not a whole lot going on today as tomorrow is the official conference opening. However, there were a few pre-conference things going on. One of them was a workshop on "Stigma", that we will hear about a little later today or this evening...... from my good friend Janice of Austin TX.
Besides the conference itself.....there is an exhibition hall where all kinds of organizations, companies etc. have booths. It's very familiar to a trade show......a RECOVERY trade show, lol. I walked around and talked to some very interesting exhibitors that I'd like to tell you about.
NAABT (National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment)
(Sharon Dembinski, Tim Lepak and me)
I had a nice talk with Tim Lepak....one of the founders and President of NAABT. I've known Tim for a long while now and in on the Advisory Board of Methadone Support Org, but this was the first time I got to meet Tim face-to-face.
One of the problems of going on Buprenorphine is that each Dr. that is certified is only allowed to have 30 patients. After they reach that point.....then the patient must go on a waitng list. NAABT has developed a centralized online patient waiting list for patients seeking office based treatment. That way if a Dr. even anticipates an opening...they can select appropriate patients from a constantly updated list of registrants. And if their practice is at capacity....they can send patients to this place for help. It sounds VERY promising!
or in the words on THEIR brochure.....
This list is a centralized, strictly confidential way for physicians to select and contact patients as treatment openings become available in his or her practice.
This web-based list offers patients in need of Buprenorphine treatment the opportunity to anonymously register and in effect, be on the waiting lists of all participating certified physicians in their geographic area.
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Advantage to Physican:
potential patients screened thru a 15 question registration form
24/7 access to updated list
alert option as new patients register
patients required to renew status every 2 wks
patient notified by email to contact you for an appt.
larger pool of potential patients
reduced office time spent
Advantages to the patient:
Receives care quickly
complete anonymity and confidentiality
one time registration reaches many physicians
registration can be done by counselor or advocate
patient is contacted by email
no daily calls to check for openings
24/7 access
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The list is only available in some areas currently, but will be expanding nationwide thru-out 2006.[/i]
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Now this is VERY exciting and you're going to love it. I can't count how many discussions we have had on these forums about emergency medicating when there's a hurricane.....terrorist attack etc. FINALLY here's something that could work!
Digital Access to Medication
Terrorist attacks on 9/11 had an immediate and profound impact on NYC's opioid treatment programs (OTP). One OTP was destroyed and several others were closed. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina......history repeated itself for the 200,000 patients relying on Methadone and Buprenorphine. Even snowstorms and power failures represent personal disasters.
In response to the problem, SAMHSA was tasked to implement a pilot disaster response system. Being deployed to over 50 OTP's, the solution will use biometric fingerprint scanning technology and other methods to identify patients prescription and dosage history when getting to their home OTP is impractical. This solution may one day save lives while simultaneously reducing the burdne on local resources and responding to such crises.
Now.....let me see if I can simplify this and try to expain it. Basically.....they have this program where one will scan the fingerprint of their index finger......that's how you will be identified and all of your dosage information is right there. So that if there is some sort of disaster.....you can walk into another clinic.....use the same program there by scanning your finger and they have proof that you are indeed YOU....and get your medication. Someday.....all clinics will have this system in place.....so you can walk into any treatment facility in the country and have your info right at hand. Go SAMHSA!!!!!!! I have all the literature for this program and will scan it when i get back.....so you can actually see it.
NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
As usual...they had lots of GREAT information. For those of you smoking Marijuana.....I have a brochure with all the newest information. I will put it on the website when I return....same with prescription drugs. For those parents that are having problems with their teenagers being addicted to opiates. NIDA is having new clinical trials that you can get involved in. It's a study for teenagers on Buprenorphine.
For any teachers that may be reading this.....NIDA has posters that you can hang in your schools. They're real nice.....have the category of the drug....example: Hallucinogens.....and then it explains what it is etc. They also offer a brochure with all kinds of drug awarenss items you can get!
Mallinckrodt
Mallinckrodt is one of the bigger manufacturers of Methadone.....liquid....pills etc. If we ever have any questions that need an expert answer....these nice folks said to just give them a call.....I have the names and numbers.
San Diego Reference Laboratory
When you have a urine test at your clinic (UA).....they basically can tell if you're positive for "opiates"....."amphetamines", etc. They are very generic.....in other words....they cannot tell the exact opiate that you have taken. It could be heroin.....or Oxycodone etc. They ONLY know it's an opiate. When a patient says they have NOT taken any drugs, they then send the specimen to an OUTSIDE lab to determine if it is a "false positive", or exactly what it is. That's what these people do. IF you have a question about your urine.....these are the people to contact! They said they'd be more than happy to help us!
and folks......that's about it for now! Going to rest and then go to an MA MEETING!
smoooooooch.......Carol
(Edited by Carol)
CAROL SHOLITON
- President/CEO
- METHADONE SUPPORT ORG.
- http://www.MethadoneSupport.org
- Carol@MethadoneSupport.org
COME CHECK OUT OUR MAIN WEBSITE!!!!
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From the beautiful mountains of Scottsdale, Arizona...(and the shopping ain't bad either, lol!)...... 
