SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 17, 2021 — In partnership with UT Health San Antonio, Be Well Texas, a new statewide addiction medicine treatment option, has launched virtual services for those seeking recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health challenges.
Through telehealth and in-person visits, services are delivered under the supervision of board-certified physicians in addiction medicine and psychiatry, and include SUD assessment, psychiatric evaluation, evidence-based counseling, medication management, peer recovery support, case management, and pharmacy and lab services throughout Texas.
Be Well Texas is the first addiction medicine virtual clinic established by UT Health San Antonio and is the first of its kind in Texas with a no-pay option.
Be Well Texas founder Jennifer Potter, PhD, MPH, vice president for research (interim) and professor of psychiatry at UT Health San Antonio, sees the clinic as a first stop on the road to recovery, regardless of ability to pay. “Be Well Texas removes the barrier of cost, the physical barrier of distance and the social barrier of negativity surrounding addiction. Our specialists deeply understand the challenges of addiction and are eager to listen,” Dr. Potter said. “Some of them have gone through it themselves and can relate directly to their patients.”
Tackling the opioid crisis during COVID
Solutions like the Be Well Texas virtual clinic are urgently needed as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the opioid crisis. Many suffering from addiction remain in isolation and have been cut off from traditional support networks. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, more than 4,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2020 in Texas, a 33% increase from the year before.
Be Well Texas’ innovative solutions are made possible through a contract with Texas Health and Human Services.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also known as UT Health San Antonio, is a premier academic research center that makes lives better through excellence in education, research, health care and community engagement. Be Well Texas is partnering with UT Health Physicians, the medical practice of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine.
Contact Be Well Texas at 1-833-778-2571 or https://BeWellTexasClinic.org.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also referred to as UT Health San Antonio, is one of the country’s leading health sciences universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated 39,700 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields, and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit www.uthscsa.edu.
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