Local Doctor Presented Success of Massachusetts Model of Addiction Recovery
Boston, MA—September 17, 2010—Punyamurtula S. Kishore MD, MPH, FASAM of Preventive Medicine Associates, Inc. (PMAI), a group of family practices located throughout Massachusetts focused on bringing the best care to their patients and community, presented the Massachusetts Primary Care model of Addiction Recovery at the National Conference on Addiction Disorders on Saturday, September 11 in Washington D.C.
The National Conference on Addiction Disorders (NCAD) was formed by combining the National Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors’ (NAADAC) annual conference, membership meeting and Board of Directors meeting with Southeast Conference on Addictive Disorders (SECAD). The agenda for the symposium consisted of programs and tracks that deal not only with treatment, but administration, finance, design, technical, and medical professional issues as well. Approximately one thousand attendees consisted of addiction professionals, clinical counselors, mental health workers, nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, and health care executives and administrators.
Dr. P.S. Kishore’s presentation at the conference titled “Paradigm Shift: Addiction Treatment in a Primary Care Setting, A Medical Home Model for Addiction Treatment” highlighted PMAI’s Massachusetts Model of treatment which treats addiction as a lifelong, chronic illness much like diabetes or hypertension. The program treats addiction at all stages from detoxification to sobriety maintenance and enhancement and not only provides comprehensive primary care but offers consultation services in neurology, psychiatry, psychology, social work, drug safety, and pharmacotherapy as well.
The unique Massachusetts Primary Care model of Addiction Recovery has been in existence for fourteen years, serving thirty towns and cities throughout the state. In this model, individuals with substance abuse disorders are treated on an outpatient basis in a primary care practice focusing on the physical, mental and social consequences of the disease.
“The majority of treatment is done outpatient with short-term, highly monitored use of medications and long-term sober living is emphasized,” said Dr. Kishore. “The model incorporates evidence-based services and SBIRT technologies with the key components being constant, long-term monitoring of progress through surveillance of the disease state and brief interventions by the providers,” he continued.
The Massachusetts model encourages family involvement and community participation. On demand access to care through providers is allowed in the family practice setting in contrast to the conventional crisis center referral. This treatment is accepted by the health insurance industry as a safe and effective model of care. While this model is currently utilized only in Massachusetts, Dr. Kishore’s evidence suggests that it could be a less-costly, easily accepted alternative to inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation.
PMAI has treated more than 200,000 patients using this method in Massachusetts.
About Punyamurtula S. Kishore MD, MPH, FASAM
Punyamurtula Kishore MD, MPH, FASAM has been a practicing public health scientist for over 30 years. He began as a primary care/family practice physician then became the last Medical Director of the Washingtonian Center for Addiction. Over the past year he has presented at the Vermont Conference on Addiction disorders, NIDA Blending Conference in Albuquerque, NM, and the NADCP Conference in Boston, MA and will be presenting this fall at the AATOD Conference in Chicago, IL, ISAM Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, and the TCA Conference in Washington, DC. He currently owns and operates 32 primary care practices throughout the state of Massachusetts specializing in addiction medicine and quality care.
About Preventive Medicine Associates, Inc.
Preventive Medicine Associates, Inc. is a group of family practices located through Massachusetts, focused on bringing the best care to their patients and community. Their doctors and staff are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous diseases and conditions, and manage both common and complex problems. They are also trained to prevent, diagnose and treat a wide variety of ailments affecting patients of all ages. Preventive Medicine Associates doctors work in the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles and research for disease and injury prevention. For more information visit preventivemedicineassociates.net
