WHO WE ARE
About PREP
PREP places certified recovery specialists in hospital emergency departments to effectively deliver care to patients experiencing substance use disorder or behavioral health issues.
PREP is an RHRC initiative funded through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). RCORP funds a variety of grants aiming to prevent or treat opioid use disorder (OUD) for people in rural areas. PREP leverages a network of rural hospitals and single county authorities across rural Pennsylvania and is modeled after the successful Addiction Recovery Mobile Outreach Team (ARMOT) developed by the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission.
WHAT WE DO
What PREP Offers
Knowledgable Intervention
We work directly with hospital staff and leadership to integrate certified recovery specialists, improving your hospital’s capability to provide care for behavioral health and substance use emergencies.
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Our services include:
- Integration of specialized staff in emergency departments
- Training and employment opportunities for local community members in peer recovery roles
- Development of teleconferencing capabilities for both in-person and virtual consultations
Community & Staff Education
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Our services include:
- Substance use and behavioral health stigma reduction
- Community and hospital staff education
- Mental Health First Aid Training for medical staff, certified recovery specialists, and community members
- Workforce development of Certified Recovery Specialists that offers training and direct employment
Enhancing Community Linkages
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Our services include:
- Building partnerships between hospitals, community organizations, and single county authorities
- Coordinating local community resources to address gaps in health care and social determinants of health
- Establishing regional strategies to address community needs on a broader scale
- Facilitating shared learning on best practices and strategies that have proven effective
Bridging Care and Recovery: The PREP Initiative
Purpose of PREP
PREP provides recovery navigation services for eligible patients to reduce hospital readmissions related to substance use and improve wellness within the community.
Increasing access to substance use treatment services
Screening for social determinants of health
Decreasing hospital readmissions and emergency department visits
Providing increased and improved connections with community support for patients
Improving patients’ quality of life
Through its network, PREP's footprint spans five rural counties across Pennsylvania reaching 212,000 rural residents.
Interested in learning more about PREP?
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The Peer Recovery Expansion Project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $500,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
