Enhancing Access to Opioid Use Disorder Care: Insights from CareConnect

Shoshana Aronowitz and Maggie Lowenstein led a qualitative study examining the implementation of CareConnect, an innovative program developed by Penn Medicine to increase access to buprenorphine for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) in Philadelphia. The study revealed that CareConnect successfully fills a critical gap in care by offering same-day buprenorphine prescriptions and linking patients to ongoing OUD care. Key factors contributing to the program’s success include leveraging existing virtual clinic infrastructure, involving an interdisciplinary team, and maintaining strong relationships with external stakeholders, such as pharmacists and community care providers. This research highlights the potential of innovative models like CareConnect to improve OUD treatment access nationwide. Learn more about the study here.