Document 0825
 DOCN  M9440825
 TI    Providing medical care to methadone clinic patients: referral vs on-site
       care.
 DT    9404
 AU    Umbricht-Schneiter A; Ginn DH; Pabst KM; Bigelow GE; Behavioral
       Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins Medical; School, Baltimore,
       Md.
 SO    Am J Public Health. 1994 Feb;84(2):207-10. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94127627
 AB    OBJECTIVES. Intravenous drug users are at high risk for medical illness,
       yet many are medically underserved. Most methadone treatment programs
       have insufficient resources to provide medical care. The purpose of this
       study was to test the efficacy of providing medical care at a methadone
       clinic site vs referral to another site. METHODS. Patients with any of
       four target medical conditions were randomized into an on-site group
       offered medical care at the methadone treatment clinic and a referred
       group offered medical care at a nearby clinic. Entry to treatment and
       use of medical services were analyzed. RESULTS. Of 161 intravenous drug
       users evaluated, 75 (47%) had one or more of the target medical
       conditions. Fifty-one were randomized. In the on-site group (n = 25),
       92% received medical treatment; in the referred group (n = 26), only 35%
       received treatment. CONCLUSIONS. Providing medical care at a methadone
       treatment program site is more effective than the usual referral
       procedure and is a valuable public health intervention.
 DE    Comparative Study  Female  *Health Services  Human  Hypertension/THERAPY
       HIV Infections/THERAPY  Male  Methadone/*THERAPEUTIC USE  *Referral and
       Consultation  Sexually Transmitted Diseases/THERAPY  *Substance Abuse
       Treatment Centers  Substance Dependence/COMPLICATIONS/REHABILITATION
       Tuberculin Test  Tuberculosis/DIAGNOSIS  CLINICAL TRIAL  JOURNAL ARTICLE
       RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

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