NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Safety Net Connect (SNC), a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology solutions, today announced that healthcare systems across the nation are now utilizing SNC’s Converge – a Next Generation eConsult Solution – to facilitate care coordination and specialist access for the treatment of opioid addiction.
Community eConsult Network (CeCN), a program of Community Health Center, Inc. and the Weitzman Institute, is a national leader in the efforts to improve access to specialty care for underserved populations. Using SNC’s eConsult technology to connect community health centers and primary care providers across the country with a network of specialists for addiction treatment is consistent with CeCN’s core mission.
“Addiction treatment can be challenging for primary care providers – particularly for community providers and practices in rural areas,” explained Daren Anderson, M.D., Director of Weitzman Institute. “Using eConsult, we can connect physicians in even the most remote regions with expert guidance from specialists in addiction medicine.” Dr. Anderson added: “Patients struggling with opioid addiction often have concomitant and complex needs for mental health and social services. eConsult technology also enables us to facilitate access and coordinate care management among these providers.”
“We’re excited to see our eConsult technology being used to make a meaningful difference for patients and families struggling with opioid addiction,” said Keith Matsutsuyu, CEO of Safety Net Connect. “We developed Converge to improve access to specialists and care coordination for underserved populations – expansion into addiction medicine is a natural evolution driven by the real-world need of providers in the field.”
How Converge Next Generation eConsult Works
When a patient has a health complaint that may need specialty attention, their PCP can use the Converge platform to initiate a dialog or electronic consultation ("eConsult") with a Specialist. Integrated decision support and referral guidelines help to triage requests to participating specialists who can efficiently respond with recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and referral. While some patients may need to see a specialist, a majority of eConsults provide PCPs with the necessary guidance to manage patients in the primary care setting.
About Community eConsult Network
Community eConsult Network (CeCN) is a novel eConsult service provider working with primary care practices, payers, state governments, and academia led by Community Health Center, Inc. CeCN links primary care practices to specialty care providers through eConsult technology to increase access to specialty care for medically underserved populations; to improve efficiency, health outcomes, and quality; and to create better communication and collaboration between primary care providers and specialists. For more information, please visit https://communityeconsults.com/
About Safety Net Connect
Since 2009, Safety Net Connect (SNC) has been a leading creator of innovative healthcare technology that makes it easier for providers and institutions to increase access to care, streamline care coordination, promote evidence-based practices, and improve quality. With a mission to improve health equity, SNC has helped public and private healthcare organizations across the nation successfully reach millions of low-income, underserved individuals with affordable, effective patient-centered care. For more information, please visit www.safetynetconnect.com
