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HealthFinders Expands Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder to Northfield

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HealthFinders Collaborative (HFC) is expanding access of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opiate use disorder (OUD) to its Northfield clinic (706 Division Street), engaging the services of Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) James Anway. MAT service was first piloted at HealthFinders’ Faribault facility earlier this year. The program has seen growth and success so far. Licensed MAT providers can prescribe the medication Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone), a safer long-acting opioid, compared to morphine or heroin. Suboxone can effectively control drug cravings, minimize opioid withdrawal symptoms, and help the patient feel normal. “Our MAT clinic services practice has grown from four patients to 18 patients in just a few months,” says HFC Director of Clinical Care and Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Emily Carroll. “We are so pleased Jim Anway is joining us to expand those services even further.”

Meet James Anway

Jim is a retired U.S. Army nurse. After retiring, he has worked with patients diagnosed with chronic pain. “My interest in using Suboxone (buprenorphine) for OUD developed out of seeing chronic pain patients who were struggling with pain management associated with irregularities in use of their opioid prescriptions for treatment of chronic pain,” Anway says. He currently treats MAT patients through Northfield Hospital & Clinics Lonsdale OAT Clinic. (612-873-9780 for physician appointment authorization). Outside of health services, Anway enjoys acting out his role as a grandfather to two grandchildren. He and his wife of 44 years, Karen, are co-foster parents of a one-year-old yellow Labrador, Reagan. His hobbies include fishing, golfing, traveling, bird watching, cycling and enjoying good coffee. Jim will work out of the HealthFinders Northfield clinic, seeing patients virtually for the time being.

Partnerships Make it Possible One of the greatest successes of MAT services at HFC stems from its partnership with the Rice County Mobile Opioid Support Team (MOST) project, a countywide coalition of agencies coming together to address opioid use. The project, supported through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, is working to expand local options for MAT and provides community members recovery support and connection to resources. MOST and HFC MAT work together to ensure patients are given the resources needed for recovery. In rural areas, connecting all elements of successful treatment can be challenging, especially for patients who do not have a driver’s license. MOST can arrange transportation for patients as well as a host of support services. The project provided HFC with start-up funds to train staff and equip the new clinic.

Learn More or Schedule an Appointment If you are in need of an appointment to treat OUD, you’re a partner with patients who could benefit from MAT services, or you’re interested in learning more about this program, please call HealthFinders at 507.323.8100.

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