A learning health system model for addressing substance use: Denver Health Center for Addiction Medicine

Introduction Substance use disorders (SUDs) continue to place heavy burdens on patients, health systems, and communities. Rapidly evolving treatment for SUDs requires health systems that can efficiently and effectively assess data and integrate evidence to practice. This paper describes the implemen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Learning health systems Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. e70003 - n/a
Main Authors: Bacon, Emily, Podewils, Laura J., Bender, Brooke, Blum, Joshua, Thurstone, Christian, Al‐Tayyib, Alia, Mills, John, Tillman, Alexandra R., Shlay, Judith
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.07.2025
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Wiley
Subjects:
Addictions
Community
Drug overdose
Drug use
Drug withdrawal
Electronic health records
Emergency medical care
Experience Report
Health facilities
Health services
Hospitals
implementation science
Knowledge management
Leadership
learning health system
Medicine
Mental health
Narcotics
opioid use disorder
Patients
Primary care
Public health
quality improvement
substance use
Substance use disorder
United States > US
opioid use disorder
substance use
learning health system
quality improvement
implementation science
ISSN:2379-6146, 2379-6146
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Introduction Substance use disorders (SUDs) continue to place heavy burdens on patients, health systems, and communities. Rapidly evolving treatment for SUDs requires health systems that can efficiently and effectively assess data and integrate evidence to practice. This paper describes the implementation of a learning health systems model of SUD care at an urban, safety‐net, integrated health system in Denver, Colorado. Methods The health system created the Center for Addiction Medicine (CAM) to coordinate comprehensive services for patients with SUD, including research, evaluation, and quality improvement efforts. CAM implemented a hub‐and‐spoke model of care and developed four strategic areas to identify, integrate, and grow SUD services. CAM also created a process for engaging community members with lived experience with SUDs and a CAM Academy to educate partners within the health system and across the region. Results CAM successfully implemented processes for gathering and assessing evidence, informing clinical practice, fostering community partnerships, and strategically expanding services and reach. Key factors driving success include strategic planning, leadership buy‐in, data infrastructure, and community partnerships. Conclusions Integrated SUD care at a safety‐net institution is a continued challenge. Persistent barriers include the SUD policy and regulatory landscape, addressing co‐occurring social and health circumstances when treating SUDs, and accurate clinical documentation of SUDs. Applying a learning health system model can help health systems adapt to these challenges.
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ISSN:2379-6146
2379-6146
DOI:10.1002/lrh2.70003