Charlottesville, VA – In a collaborative effort to address opioid-use disorder among the city’s unhoused residents, UVA Health and The Haven, a local day shelter and housing resource, have launched a new initiative. This partnership aims to bring comprehensive care directly to those in need, overcoming barriers that often prevent vulnerable populations from accessing medical services.
Once a week, a multidisciplinary team from UVA Health, comprising a social worker, physician, and addiction specialist, will provide services at The Haven. The initiative is spearheaded by Dr. Nassima Ait-Daoud Tiouririne, a UVA Health psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist. “A lot of people struggling with addiction find it extremely challenging to navigate a system like UVA’s,” said Dr. Tiouririne. “So, we’ve decided instead of waiting for people to show up in the clinic, why don’t we go to them where they are?”
The program, funded by the Opioid Abatement Authority through a state grant, is called the SmART (street medicine, access, reduction, and treatment) program. It builds upon an existing partnership between UVA Health and The Haven, which has included a primary health care clinic at The Haven since 2019. This clinic is staffed by UVA physicians and medical students, offering critical health services to the community.
The SmART program aims to address the holistic needs of each patient. This includes assisting with Medicaid applications, setting up electronic medical records at UVA to facilitate communication with physicians, and providing transportation to off-site resources. These efforts are designed to ensure that patients receive continuous and coordinated care.
“Our hope really is for everyone to receive non-judgmental, non-coercive care that is really unique to their needs,” said Ocean Aiello, The Haven’s community engagement manager. “We know that access to quality health care has historically been difficult for folks experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty.”
By bringing these essential services directly to the community, UVA Health and The Haven aim to reduce the barriers to care and provide targeted support for those struggling with opioid addiction. This initiative represents a significant step forward in addressing the opioid crisis at a local level, offering a model for other communities facing similar challenges.
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