Renown Health has established a new inpatient consultation-liaison service with board-certified physicians to address the needs of community members facing substance use disorders (SUD). This initiative aims to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care to patients in a supportive environment while also collaborating with hospitalists to strengthen best practices in the treatment of patients with substance use disorders.
Introducing the Addiction Medicine Consultation Liaison Program
The consultation-liaison program is led by the highly specialized and double board-certified Addiction Medicine specialists, Charlene Letchford, MD and Ngoc Khuyen Tran, MD, who have overseen its implementation across Renown’s hospitals since Nov. 10. The service will treat patients of all ages, including youth with substance use disorders.
The service integrates clinical care with education and academic engagement, aligning with Renown and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine’s integrated academic health system mission.
A Bridge Between Acute Medical Care and Ongoing Addiction Treatment
Our addiction medicine specialists act as a bridge between acute medical care and ongoing addiction treatment by providing:
People first care compassionately without stigma or judgment.
Bedside consultation and assessment for patients with SUD, withdrawal risk and education on continued inpatient and outpatient care.
Guidance on the initiation of medications for addiction treatment.
Introductions and coordination for supportive therapies for addiction counseling, group therapy, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs as necessary.
Liaison services between our care teams to support continued education and best practices in addiction medicine and stigma reduction.
Close collaboration with peer support specialists, social workers, case managers and the patient’s care team.
Renown does not offer residential or primary inpatient treatment for SUD or withdrawal. However, behavioral health crisis and withdrawal treatment are available at the Renown Crisis Care Center, and outpatient programs are available through Renown Behavioral Health. Renown will continue to collaborate with community organizations that specialize in inpatient and outpatient addiction and behavioral health services.
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