Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, March 16, 2018
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Secretary Dr. Jennifer Walthall and Indiana Executive Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement Jim McClelland announced a new tool to help Hoosiers seeking treatment for substance use disorder immediately connect with available inpatient or residential treatment services.
This new tool is made possible by a partnership between the state, OpenBeds®, a software platform that manages health services, and Indiana 2-1-1, a non-profit organization that provides health care and other resource referrals to those in need. The partnership brings together OpenBeds® technology with Indiana 2-1-1's database of service providers to give Hoosiers access to addiction treatment options in real time--as well as ongoing services when Hoosiers leave treatment to help them return to productive and fulfilling lives.
"It's been far easier to get high than to get help, and that's changing in Indiana. When someone suffering from substance use disorder makes the decision to seek treatment, there's no time to waste in seizing the moment," Gov. Eric Holcomb said. "This innovative partnership provides another practical, useful tool in our state's attack on the drug crisis."
Through the state's coordinated efforts to attack the drug epidemic and $10.9 million in federal 21st Century Cures Act funds, Indiana officials have increased residential treatment capacity by 26 percent in 18 months. Despite increasing treatment beds, Indiana hospitals and treatment providers were left without a real-time solution to connect individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorder to an available bed.
"This creative partnership transforms how Hoosiers with substance use disorder are matched with the treatment they urgently need," said FSSA Secretary Jennifer Walthall, M.D., M.P.H. "When hospitals and medical providers use the OpenBeds platform, the process is streamlined to avoid unnecessary delays in securing available beds for individuals needing treatment so more Hoosiers can be saved from this disease."
When individuals successfully complete treatment, Indiana 2-1-1 leverages nearly 7,000 service providers to assist Hoosiers with optional services to help them lead productive and fulfilling lives, such as help finding a job, housing, transportation and temporary financial or food assistance.
More information about the OpenBeds® software platform is available at www.openbeds.net.
Indiana 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that helps Hoosiers find local resources at www.in211.org.
Learn more about Indiana's drug prevention, treatment and enforcement efforts by visiting www.in.gov/recovery.
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