Licensed Addiction Counselor Jonathan Boese is on board to launch the EPICC program at CommCARE, one of the first programs of its kind in the state of Missouri. EPICC is an acronym for Engaging Patients In Care Coordination. Based upon successful implementation of the state's first EPICC program in St. Louis, the program promotes a ‘Medication First’ model through transitions of care.
CommCARE President and CEO Terry Trafton says, "The EPICC program is supported by the Department of Mental Health and the Missouri Hospital Association. We start by treating victims of opioid overdose at emergency rooms with a medication that helps with their withdrawal symptoms. Patients are provided counseling that helps them take critical steps toward recovery from addiction."
CommCARE is collaborating with six community mental health centers and six Kansas City-area hospitals to ensure patients are connected to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Substance Use and Mental Health treatment, and community resources as means to enhancing the recovery process.