Rapid Access Addiction Medicine clinic will serve as ‘hub and spoke’ for those needing medicinal help for substance abuse in Sault and area; Sault Area Hospital’s admitting and registration area relocates to emergency department

A valuable new service for those battling substance abuse, known as the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic, opened Monday, located at Sault Area Hospital’s existing Addictions Treatment Clinic location at 123 East Street.

“RAAM is a rapid access clinic for individuals with substance abuse issues that require specialized, evidenced-based addiction medicine support,” wrote Brandy Sharp Young, SAH Communications and Volunteer Resources manager, in an email to SooToday.

The clinic will accept referrals from hospital emergency departments, physicians, nurse practitioners, community addictions and mental health services, social services and families, and is open to walk-ins.

Once the RAAM clinic receives a referral, the clinical team may provide services depending on the needs of the patient, such as assessment, case management, counselling and prescribing of appropriate addiction medications, the team also connecting patients to community treatment programs, Sharp Young explained.

“Once a patient is stabilized, they are referred back to primary care for long-term follow-up; the clinical team can provide (limited) ongoing support by being available to family physicians for re-assessments, consultations, and advice about addiction care. In this model, addiction specialists, hospital staff, family doctors, and community service agents work together to provide seamless and accessible care to patients with substance use disorders,” Sharp Young wrote.

“In Algoma, the Sault Ste. Marie RAAM Clinic will act as a 'Hub' with 'Spoke' access reaching out to east and north Algoma communities,” Sharp Young added.

To provide this outreach to outlying district communities, the lead physician will, by phone or through the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), provide an assessment, consultation and advice to primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and emergency department physicians looking for help in supporting patients with substance use disorders in their communities.

“Specialized case management services will be provided by local addiction and mental health services and other health and social service organizations in Algoma district communities,” Sharp Young wrote.

Operational details for the clinic are still being finalized.

“Currently, our plan will see the clinic physician lead being available to see patients or to consult with primary care two hours per day, two days per week, and in addition, the clinic will have nurse practitioners (NPs) services available,” Sharp Young wrote.

The Sault Ste. Marie RAAM Clinic was made possible through collaboration between North East LHIN funded organizations.

On another hospital note, Sharp Young informed SooToday SAH’s Admitting and Registration Department was relocated to the Emergency Department as of Mar. 19.

“The majority of patients who are admitted to Sault Area Hospital are admitted through the Emergency Department (and) by relocating Admitting and Registration we will be able to better support the flow of patients from the Emergency Department to our inpatient units. Additionally, this move will improve our Admitting and Registration Department team’s ability to provide safe, quality care by centralizing our services to one location 24 hours a day, seven days per week,” Sharp Young wrote.