NEW CASTLE – The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) announces significant advancement in capabilities for the Delaware Treatment and Referral Network (DTRN) with the launch of DTRN360, a Behavioral Health Coordination platform.

DTRN360 is designed to bridge the gaps experienced by providers in caring for Delaware residents suffering from mental health and substance use disorders within the State. The system will connect community-based providers, supports systems, and behavioral health providers within one workflow. Two organizations were chosen to build out the care coordination solution: Bamboo Health, for the single integrated platform, and FindHelp for social determinants of health (SDOH) referrals, which will be accessible within the integrated DTRN360 digital platform.

Providers have often lacked a consistent coordination channel, which can result in a fragmented approach to patient care. As a result, patients often face excessive wait times to treatment, missed opportunities for treatment, and increased risk of overdoes or death from untreated substance use and mental health disorders. DTRN360 will facilitate a more streamlined care coordination pathway among providers involved in a client’s care journey.

SDOH referrals are vital because health is influenced by a wide range of social and economic factors such as transportation, housing, and food security, among many others. By addressing these determinants by providing referrals to organizations that provide help, healthcare systems can provide more holistic care, reduce disparities, and improve overall outcomes for individuals and communities.

As part of the DTRN360’s new workflow, clinicians using the platform can now see real-time patient data at the point of care. A few of the key enhancements of the DTRN360 platform is that multiple providers who are working with a single client will be able to request that a patient grant access for providers to share clinical assessment information about the patient, receive alerts as the patient moves through the system of care for treatment, and refer the patient to services like housing all activities that help to streamline the continuity of care. Participating providers will also receive risk scores, insights, messaging tools, and comprehensive data reporting.

“At DSAMH, one of our key priorities is ensuring individuals suffering from addiction or a mental health crisis have access to the support they need when they need it,” said DSAMH Director Joanna Champney. “DTRN360 will give our health care providers across the state more tools to deliver integrated care to their patients and support their patients’ behavioral health needs. We also hope this tool will enhance the patient experience, because patients can opt to share certain assessments and records virtually with providers through the digital waiver process.”

DSAMH launched DTRN, an eReferral platform solution, in October 2018 to improve outcomes for Delawareans suffering from a substance abuse disorder. The DTRN system identifies and tracks behavioral health and community resources throughout the state, giving providers immediate visibility into resource availability across a shared network. This makes it easier to get people the help they need when they need it.

DTRN reached 100k referrals in December 2020 and has expanded to connect clients with other important resources like housing, employment, and education.

During its first year, DTRN improved response rates to referral requests, with 65% of receiving organizations acknowledging a client referral within 30 minutes, an increase of 25% since the program’s inception a year prior. This means that referring providers are ensured that their requests are answered in a timely fashion in placing clients with care.

DTRN360 represents the next phase in ensuring that individuals in Delaware receive the care and support they need promptly and efficiently. By addressing SDOH and enhancing coordination among all healthcare providers caring for Behavioral Health disorders, DTRN360 is poised to usher in a new era of healthcare excellence for the State.

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