Research and Markets: Alcohol/Substance Abuse & Dependency - Evaluation and Management 2nd Edition, 2009 Update

DUBLIN--(Business Wire)--
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/b284e2/alcoholsubstance) has
announced the addition of the "Alcohol/Substance Abuse & Dependency - Evaluation
and Management 2nd Edition, 2009 Update" report to their offering.

Each guideline must be reviewed by the medical policy committee of the HMO or
contracted/delegated medical group or other providers and modified and adapted
as appropriate. It is strongly recommended that all applicable documents that
will be used to manage medical care in the organization be sent to affected
providers for review and comment prior to implementation. This will always
promote an understanding of the guideline, avoid compliance issues, and
frequently improve the document by the added input.

Cost effective health care is quality driven (true quality, that is; not
excessive care) and attention must always be focused on the issues that will
result in optimal medical/surgical outcomes in the specific local medical
environment. Guideline compliance remains a major issue. Neither CQI teams nor
academic detailing have proven to be particularly effective.

Once adopted, all policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols, benefit
interpretations, review criteria, pathways and the like should be reviewed
annually, or in some cases even more frequently, as clinically significant
changes occur due to new technology, medications or practices entering the
medical mainstream. The sources of the information in a guideline, whenever
possible, should be included as a reference or footnote. Use clear and
unambiguous language in a stated policy or procedure. Avoid any implications of
guaranteed clinical results or outcomes as a result of following a particular
guideline. All policies, procedures, guidelines and similar criteria should be
followed consistently and be in writing.

If the distribution of the guideline is not followed by feedback and
reinforcement, compliance will be minimal.

When using this manual, it should be noted that the policies/guidelines are all
subject to contractual limitations and changes that occur periodically based on
objective studies in the medical literature, recommendations by national bodies
such as the AMA, ACP or Medicare and/or other objective sources of new
information.

Guidelines are a roadmap with options for the route to be traveled, not a
standard of care.

To assure an organized process for the compilation, approval and distribution of
medical policy and related information, all policies or guidelines proposed for
use by any physician or medical organization should be submitted to the Medical
Director or Vice President, Medical Services for detailed review, circulation to
others in the organization and specific approval prior to implementation.

Some Key Topics Covered:

* Perception of the amount of alcohol ingested - relation to shape of glass (new
12-05)
* Introduction/overview (update 5-06)
* Comorbid psychoses
* Treatment
* Methadone detoxification (New 12-04, update 8-06, 2-09)
* Opioid contracts (new 3-06)
* Bupropion with contingency management for cocaine dependence in a
methadone-maintained population
* Buprenorphine and LAAM guidelines for opioid addiction (update 9-05, 5-06,
7-06)
* Anesthesia-assisted opioid detoxification (New 9-05, update 2-07)
* Acupuncture for the treatment of cocaine addiction (New 9-05)
* Progressive stages of acute alcohol withdrawal
* Outpatient alcohol detoxification (update 3-05, 7-05, 11-06)
* Admission criteria for inpatient detoxification (update 5-07) Also refer to
rehabilitation centers
* What about alcohol use and the risk of stroke?
* Methamphetamines/Amphetamines (New 4-05, update 12-05, 3-07, 11-07)
* Outcome measures (New 8-05, update 10-06)
* Insurance denials for alcohol-related emergency care services (New 10-05)
* Clinicians Guide - online links (New 1-07)
* Screening Tests (written or verbal - alcohol)

For more information visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/b284e2/alcoholsubstance

Research and Markets
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
Fax from USA: 646-607-1907
Fax from rest of the world: +353-1-481-1716

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