NIATX and the CTN: It’s all about improving care.

Northeast Behavioral Health (formerly CAB Health and Recovery Services), part of the New England Consortium Node, was one of the original members of Paths to Recovery, an initiative that eventually became NIATx (Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment). After learning about the quality of care enhancements brought about by rapid-cycle PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) projects, the organization began focusing first on decreasing the time from first call to first dose of methadone in their methadone treatment program, and then rapidly expanded rapid-cycle enhancements to other levels of care. It was suggested not to train staff in evidence-based practices, but instead to have the freedom to try anything that could work. The CTN, on the other hand, uses a completely different philosophy when it comes to enhancing substance use disorder treatment quality. It relies on carefully designed research using randomized controlled trials to determine if one type of treatment is better than another, or better than treatment-as-usual. The CTN also focuses on training and supervision, as well as monitoring the fidelity of implementation of evidence-based practices. Exposure to the CTN brought an enriching network of researchers and information back to Northeast Behavioral Health, as well as a host of new evidence-based practices. Exposure also went in the opposite direction, with researchers getting a better handle on the various issues treatment programs struggle with. Though NIATx and the CTN have vastly different approaches to enhancing the quality of substance use disorder care, both have something of value to offer and both should be used to enhance care, either separately, together, or in a blended format. Involvement in both NIATx and the CTN has enhanced the delivery of substance use disorder treatment within Northeast Behavioral Health.