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A movement toward health: A case study of the pregnancy recovery center

McCalla, Phylicia (2014) A movement toward health: A case study of the pregnancy recovery center. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

In the last decade, the prevalence of opioid dependency in the United States has dramatically increased. Opioid dependency is a form of substance abuse and is characterized by an individual’s inability to stop using opioids. It is a medical disease that, while treatable, is chronic and relapsing. Because dependency creates difficulties in one’s physical, psychological, social, and economic functioning, treatment must be designed to address all of those areas. Research suggests that opioid dependency is best treated in a comprehensive, individualized tailored program of medication therapy integrated with psychosocial and support services . The Pregnancy Recovery Center (PRC) provides the aforementioned services to opioid-dependent pregnant women in the Pittsburgh area and its surrounding communities. Buprenorphine maintenance, a form of Medication-Assisted Treatment, has become a major public health initiative to treat opioid dependency. All studies have found buprenorphine to be well accepted by mothers and infants, and to be useful in treating opioid dependent pregnant women. Patients have reported improved social functioning, in addition to elimination of illicit-opioid use. Other outcomes include improvements in employment, education, productivity, homemaking, parenting, physical and mental health, and overall quality of life. The purpose of this case study is to examine and evaluate the development of the Pregnancy Recovery Center - an integrated Medical Home Care Model that provides Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and prenatal care & delivery for opioid dependent mothers in a single program. The Pregnancy Recovery Center is the only comprehensive buprenorphine clinic dedicated to serving pregnant women in Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities of Western Pennsylvania. This local public health initiative provides consistent, collaborative care throughout the patient’s pregnancy and is a movement toward better health for women and infants. In this case study, the PRC is evaluated based on outcome measures in its first 3 months of operations and compared to scholarly literature. Outcome measures support literature findings that suggest buprenorphine maintenance is an effective method in reducing infant length of stay (LOS) and severity of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Finally, recommendations are made as the Pregnancy Recovery Center continues to expand and provide services.


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Details

Item Type: Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
McCalla, Phylicia
Contributors:
ContributionContributors NameEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairDonohue, Juliejdonohue@pitt.eduJDONOHUEUNSPECIFIED
Committee MemberSouth-Paul, Jeannettesoutjx@upmc.eduUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Committee MemberBobby, Stephaniebobbysm@mail.magee.eduUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date: 8 December 2014
Date Type: Publication
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Public Health > Health Policy & Management
Degree: MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type: Master Essay
Refereed: Yes
Date Deposited: 17 Aug 2015 21:39
Last Modified: 27 Jul 2022 10:56
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23584

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