The New York City public hospital system is adopting revolutionary addiction treatment programs in health facilities serving the South Bronx after the same initiative dramatically suppressed overdose deaths on Staten Island, the Post learned.
Health + Hospitals will launch a specialized “hot spotting” treatment program at Lincoln Hospital thanks to a $660,000 grant from the Robin Hood Foundation.
In the hot spotting model, patients undergoing treatment for opioid use in the emergency department of Lincoln Hospital are connected to a dedicated care team, including local healthcare workers and peer counselors.
Up to one year after discharge from the hospital, teams will reach out to patients every other week to provide support and connection to addiction services, healthcare, community-based resources, welfare benefits, and housing.
The program provides patients with cell phones and service contacts to help them stay connected to care.
The Lincoln Hospital program will serve approximately 150 substance abusers at the highest risk of recurrence.
A study of the hot spotting program run by Northwell Health’s Staten Island Performing Provider System developed at MIT found that there were only two fatal overdose among 612 participants.
The analysis also showed a 36% reduction in nonfatal overdose and a 63% reduction in substance use disorder-related emergency room visits compared to non-programmed opioid users.
“New and innovative support is needed to increase the efficacy of opioids in New York City.
Our Care for Patients with Opioid Use Disorders, President of Health + Hospitals and
CEO Mitchell Katz said.
“The Hot Spotting Program will provide up to one year of follow-up care to patients at Lincoln Hospital after leaving the hospital for opioid treatment. We are deeply grateful for Robin Hood and Staten Island for helping us launch this new model at NYC Health+ Hospital.”
The city’s fatal overdoses have more than doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic. From 1,452 deaths in 2018 to 3,046 deaths in 2023, according to city data.
The Bronx has the highest mortality rates from opioid overdose in cities, and patients who have experienced non-fatty overdose are at a higher risk of dying from future overdose, officials said.
“PPS on Staten Island is proud to partner with outstanding and dedicated experts.
Implementing the NYC Health + Hospitals HotSpotting program,” Staten Island said
Joseph Conte, Executive Director of Performance Provider Systems (SIPPS).
He said the opioid crisis is a serious problem in black and Latino communities, such as the South Bronx.
“There remains a critical need to save lives, which is the essence of a more innovation and proactive approach, a hot spotting approach,” Conte said.
Lincoln Hospital is eager to launch a new addiction treatment program.
“Our hot spotting programme will help patients provide continuity of care and maintain connections between health care and addiction services as they move from hospitals to community settings,” said Dr. Daniel Schatz, Medical Director of Drug Health Disorders Services at Health + Hospital.
