ORN Summer 2026 - Hospital Addiction Consult Services for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder: Pragmatic Trial of the ‘Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals (CATCH)’ Program-Handout - ORN Spring 2026

Handout - ORN Spring 2026 - McNeely and King

Pdf Summary

This presentation summarized the CATCH program, a hospital addiction consult service designed to improve treatment for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) during hospitalization and after discharge. The study was a pragmatic, stepped-wedge trial across six New York City public hospitals. It evaluated whether CATCH increased initiation of medications for OUD (MOUD), engagement in treatment, retention, and downstream outcomes such as emergency visits, hospitalizations, and overdose deaths.<br /><br />Results showed that CATCH substantially improved post-discharge treatment initiation and early engagement: initiation was nearly 8 times higher and 30-day engagement nearly 7 times higher than usual care. However, 6-month retention did not significantly improve, and initiation after any single admission still remained low. Secondary analyses found that CATCH reduced emergency department visits within one year after discharge, but did not reduce rehospitalizations or mortality.<br /><br />Implementation findings showed that high-performing hospitals had full staffing, dedicated office/collaboration space, strong leadership support, and existing outpatient buprenorphine resources. Qualitative interviews with staff highlighted barriers such as lack of space and bridge-clinic infrastructure, while patients described CATCH as humanizing, supportive, and helpful for navigating care and accessing MOUD.<br /><br />Overall, the presentation concluded that hospitals are an important touchpoint for OUD treatment, and addiction consult services like CATCH are feasible, well accepted, and effective for improving post-discharge MOUD initiation and engagement. However, more work is needed to improve long-term retention and broader post-hospital outcomes. The Opioid Response Network was also highlighted as a no-cost technical assistance resource for communities and organizations addressing opioid and stimulant use disorders.

Keywords

CATCH program

opioid use disorder

hospital addiction consult service

medications for OUD

MOUD initiation

post-discharge engagement

stepped-wedge trial

buprenorphine

emergency department visits

Opioid Response Network