American Society of Addiction Medicine
Shawn McNeil, MD
Technology Use Among Patients in Inpatient Medically Managed Withdrawal
Technology Use Among Patients in Inpatient Medically Managed Withdrawal
Technology Use Among Patients in Inpatient Medically Managed Withdrawal
Tuesday 8th October 2019
Dr. Babak Tofighi explores the role of digital tools in addiction treatment, focusing on benefits, challenges, and privacy concerns.
13 minutes
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Educational
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American Society of Addiction Medicine
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Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Family Recovery from Addiction
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
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Get the buttons here!Tech-Savvy Healing: Dr. Babak Tofighi on Digital Tools in Addiction Care
Patients obviously were averse to content that was overtly indicating that they had an opioid use disorder. However, patients were very amenable to using terms that were coded.
Imagine navigating the challenges of substance use disorder (SUD) with a little help from your smartphone. In this episode of 'Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract', Dr. Babak Tofighi, an assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine, shares his innovative research on integrating technology into addiction treatment. Dr. Tofighi, who also serves as the assistant director for the addiction medicine fellowship program at NYU, was inspired by the communication gaps he observed during crises like Hurricane Sandy.
This sparked his interest in how digital tools could bridge these gaps and enhance patient care. Dr. Tofighi's findings reveal that many patients are open to using mobile health technologies to support their recovery journey. These tools can link them with support groups, access social services, and manage co-occurring conditions like HIV and Hepatitis. However, there are hurdles, such as frequent changes in phone numbers among patients, which complicate the consistent use of mobile health interventions.
Additionally, the illicit market has been quicker to adopt new technologies, presenting a unique challenge for healthcare providers. To overcome these obstacles, Dr. Tofighi suggests that clinicians can utilize electronic medical records like MyChart for better communication and appointment reminders. Third-party text message vendors can also play a role by sending harm reduction messages and mental health resources. It's crucial, however, to use coded language to maintain patient privacy and avoid stigmatizing terms.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology and addiction treatment. Dr. Tofighi's work underscores the potential of digital tools to transform care for patients with SUDs, while also highlighting the need for thoughtful implementation to address privacy and accessibility concerns.