The Peterborough Regional Heath Centre (PRHC) has opened the area’s first clinic to provide expedited, barrier-free treatment for patients who are addicted to alcohol or opioids.
The Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic has been operating in early March at 159 King St. Suite 302 in downtown Peterborough (co-located with PARN). It is open from 8 to 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
The RAAM clinic is staffed by PRHC physicians and registered nurses. No booked appointment or physician referral is necessary, although referrals from doctors, nurses, social workers, addiction counselors, and community providers are welcomed.
“Our Rapid Access Addiction Medicine clinic provides immediate access to lifesaving treatment by offering same-day counselling and addiction medication, and prescription therapies,” says Dr. Jim McGorman, an Emergency Department physician with PRHC who is now also treating patients at the new 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 RAAM clinic model is designed to initiate therapy for opioid or alcohol addiction and then triage clients to the most appropriate ongoing care provider. It is not intended to replace or duplicate the care provided by a family physician or a treatment clinic. RAAM clinics have been implemented in cities across Ontario including Oshawa and Scarborough, where they are helping to prevent opiate overdoses and reduce emergency department visits and inpatient stays for people with addictions.
According to a media release, the RAAM clinic at PRHC is working closely with other health care providers and resources in the community to ensure patients have access to additional supports following their initial treatment, as they move through the continuum of care.
The clinic is funded by $200,000 from the Ministry of Health and the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
The RAAM clinic has been operating in its downtown location at 159 King St. Suite 302 (co-located with PARN) since March 5. It is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.
