Leveraging Technology to Address Unhealthy Drug Use in Primary Care Settings

Patient and PCP are not presented with screening results. The PCP does not receive clinical decision support, or clinical reminders.

Following completion of substance use screening, the tablet computer presents screening results (including level of risk) to the patient for each substance used, asks them to identify their drug of most concern (DOMC), and assesses readiness and confidence to change behavior. Results are delivered to the PCP at the point of care, paired with clinical decision support tailored to the patient's screening results. This information is delivered on the tablet computer, which is handed to the PCP by a Medical Assistant. CDS guides the PCP through a brief intervention specific to the DOMC, recommends clinical actions pertaining to the substance and risk level, and generates a printed summary for the patient. At each scheduled follow-up medical visit, the PCP receives a clinical reminder containing a summary of the patient's substance use and level of risk, paired with CDS that guides them through a follow-up brief intervention.