DHCS funded the Integrated Substance Abuse Programs at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to provide training services and technical assistance (TA) across the State of California, assisting DHCS’ efforts to improve, expand and increase access to MAT services. Activities are broken out into four objectives:
- Develop and conduct a statewide survey among DATA 2000 waivered prescribers to determine training / technical assistance needs;
- Interpret results and identify targeted areas of prescriber support and mentorship;
- Build the appropriate training / TA team and develop curriculum; and
- Provide distance and / or face-to-face training and technical assistance to increase prescriber / provider skills in delivering MAT services.
In the first phase of the project, the UCLA team collaborated with clinical experts and MAT champions to develop an online survey targeting California DATA 2000 waivered prescribers to identify why prescribers are NOT prescribing and identify the most effective supports / strategies to mitigate these barriers. Survey dissemination and data collection will occur in April 2019, and qualitative interviews will follow to further delve into the findings and understand prescribing barriers. In addition, UCLA secured a consultant agreement with Dr. Candy Stockton-Joreteg, family practitioner and MAT champion, who will provide ongoing expertise on the project team to assist in translating the survey findings into practical technical assistance and curriculum development. UCLA plans to build a team of clinical experts / physician champions to provide distance and / or face-to-face training and TA.
If you are interested in becoming a physician champion (e.g., being available by phone or email for questions, allowing a physician to shadow you for a day, etc.) please contact Valerie Antonini from UCLA. Training and TA is scheduled to initiate in early Summer 2019.