Addiction Services Screening, Brief Intervention, Consultation, and Referral Pilot Project

An Addiction Services clinical therapist was aligned with a specific primary site and provided half day coverage per week on-site for the purpose of consultation with staff, screening, brief intervention and referral of primary care patients/clients. Integrating the clinical therapist as a member of the primary care team versus an Addiction Services clinician who is providing services in the primary care setting was key to building trust and credibility with the primary care patients. The goal of this initiative was for the partners (AVH Addiction Services and the primary care sites) to work collaboratively to build capacity for screening, brief intervention, referral, and consultation in the primary care setting.