Workit Health’s Digital Addiction Care Expands to Washington and Alaska
Workit Health announced the expansion of its 100 percent virtual addiction care program to Washington and Alaska. Workit Health offers a telemedicine program offering medication for opioid and alcohol use disorder, including an at-home alcohol detox program. Alaska and Washington residents are now able to sign up for Workit Health’s program online or over the phone with or without a referral.
Demand for digital care has skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and people with substance use disorders who rely on traditional in-person models of care have been disproportionately affected by the crisis. The Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program reported a 42 percent increase in suspected overdoses in May after overall declines in overdose rates across many states in 2019. Workit Health is prepared to respond to this crisis with on-demand clinician support for opioid and alcohol use disorders.
“We’re seeing a population hit hard by two health crises at once: COVID-19 and the overdose epidemic, and Workit is at the front lines coordinating immediate access to care with emergency departments in COVID-19 hotspots,” says Lisa McLaughlin, Workit Health’s Co-CEO. “We’ve worked with experts from all over the United States to build out a standalone addiction care program that is fully virtual, and we’re proud to be bringing this gold-standard care to Washington and Alaska residents, from the comfort and safety of their homes.”
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December 2024
Through Workit Health’s 5-star rated Android, iOS, and web apps, residents of Washington and Alaska struggling with substance use are able to gain access to Master’s level recovery coaches trained in harm reduction, clinicians focused on medication-assisted treatment like buprenorphine/naloxone or naltrexone, online recovery groups led by licensed counselors, and a personalized curriculum of interactive therapeutic courses. Health plans, including Premera Blue Cross, state and local governments, and Fortune 500 companies, partner with Workit Health, which boasts 83 percent treatment adherence rates for stabilized members.
“Our outcomes have beaten those of brick-and-mortar addiction care for the past several years,” said Paul Leonard, Workit Health’s CMO. “But it’s clear that right now, Workit’s digital care is needed more than ever. We’ve seen a 40 percent increase in our engagement and are talking to people every day who are fearful of seeking out more traditional in-person support.”
“We’re experts in telemedicine addiction care—we’ve spent years developing a patient-centered online program, and we’ve seen a dramatic increase in demand as people are looking for help from home in the Pacific Northwest and nationwide,” says Robin McIntosh, Workit Health’s Co-CEO. “Even in the best of times, digital care increases access and lowers barriers. In the face of COVID-19, we’re anticipating a new normal where access to expert support through the Workit app is the first choice for people with substance use disorders.”
Workit Health’s digital care program is Joint Commission accredited and includes medication management for opioid use and alcohol use disorders and online therapy support for all substance use disorders. It was founded by two women in recovery, Robin McIntosh and Lisa McLaughlin, when they saw friends being lost to outdated traditional systems of care. The program is harm reduction-based and helps members meet self-set recovery goals. Workit’s proprietary software includes an EMR, in-app videos with clinicians and counselors, randomized virtual drug testing, as well as in-app care management. Within the app members are able to access audio shares, work through therapeutic courses and receive coach feedback, and join online recovery groups.
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