The goal of the META:PHI care pathway is a fully integrated system in which patients receive evidence-based care at every step:
Patients presenting to any health care setting – withdrawal management services (WMS), hospital, psychiatry, primary care provider – with a condition related to substance use receive highly effective, evidence-based treatment.
On discharge, patients are referred to a rapid access addiction medicine (RAAM) clinic, which they can attend without a booked appointment or formal referral note.
At the RAAM clinic, an addiction specialist immediately provides brief counselling, prescribes appropriate addiction medications (such as buprenorphine, naltrexone, or acamprosate), and connects patients to community treatment programs.
Once patients are stabilized, they are referred back to primary care for long-term follow-up.
The RAAM clinician provides ongoing support by being available to primary care providers for re-assessments, consultations, and advice about addiction management.
Patients move throughout the care pathway as needed, with communication between providers in the different settings.
