Peterbrough’s hospital has opened a new clinic to expedite treatment for alcohol or opioid addiction.
The area’s first Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic on King Street in the city’s downtown is staffed by Peterborough Regional Health Centre physicians and registered nurses.
The RAAM model is designed to begin barrier-free therapy for opioid of alcohol addiction and then triage clients to an appropriate care provider.
“Our Rapid Access Addiction Medicine clinic provides immediate access to lifesaving treatment by offering same-day counselling and addiction medication, and prescription therapies,” stated Dr. Jim McGorman, an emergency department physician who is now also treating patients at the clinic.
“This care model has been shown to help save lives by engaging patients with both short- and long-term therapies as soon as they are ready to pursue those treatments.”
The clinic is not intended to replace or duplicate the care provided by a family physician or a treatment clinic. Officials are working with other health-care providers and community resources to ensure patients have access to additional supports following their initial treatment.
The clinic received $200,000 in funding from the Ministry of Health and the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
“The development and implementation of RAAM clinics in Oshawa, Scarborough and now in Peterborough is an important part of the recently released Central East LHIN Opioid Strategy as we collectively respond in an integrated and coordinated way to addressing the opioid crisis in each of our sub-regions,” said Deborah Hammons, CEO of the Central East LHIN.
The clinic at 159 King St. Suite 302 runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. No booked appointment or physician referral is necessary.
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