Healthcare professionals across the state are seeking innovative approaches to combating the opioid crisis by delivering comprehensive care to those struggling with substance use disorder (SUD). Dr. Kristin Martin, CEO of River Valley Medical Wellness (RVMW), is spearheading the Arkansas Mobile Opioid Recovery (ARMOR) project, a nonprofit program dedicated to serving rural and vulnerable populations struggling with SUDs. She recently went on AFMC TV to discuss the project.
With an impressive background as a board-certified family practice and addiction medicine physician and over 15 years of experience in emergency medicine and medical director roles, Dr. Martin has leveraged her extensive expertise to launch a mobile health unit that will bring essential healthcare services to the communities that need them most.
The Genesis of ARMOR
ARMOR emerged as a direct response to the critical need for accessible addiction medicine and substance use services in rural communities. The project employs a compassionate approach to healthcare, venturing into communities where patients might not have access to necessary medical services. Arkansas, like many states, faces high statistical averages of opioid overdoses.
“We are losing one to two Arkansans each day to opioid overdose,” Dr. Martin says. According to the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Statistics, in 2023, 510 Arkansans died from a drug overdose. Another 3,937 Arkansans experienced a non-fatal overdose. “Because of that high death rate and all the other issues surrounding opioid addiction, our focus has been to try to reach out to these communities and provide these vital services.”
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Care
The ARMOR program follows an integrated healthcare model that provides a wide range of services for patients and their families. This model combines primary care, mental health, and addiction medicine to offer a well-rounded and comprehensive suite of services for individuals suffering from addiction.
“We know that when we do this, this program offers patients who suffer from SUD and OUD better outcomes and better chances of recovering in the long run,” Dr. Martin says.
The Team Behind the Mission
The ARMOR initiative is supported by a dedicated team of family practice trained providers and nurse practitioners working in addiction medicine to provide resources to patients. The team provides referrals to inpatient programs, Naloxone training for patients and their families, and medications for OUD and its underlying conditions, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, or other complications that patients are self-medicating for.
“We can’t forget our peer recovery support staff on the mobile unit who help patients and their families understand peer services and speak about their lived experience,” Dr. Martin adds. “The medical staff and mental health providers on the mobile health unit also connect patients with telehealth services, which they can utilize on another portion of the mobile unit.”
Bridging the Healthcare Gap
Dr. Martin and her team developed the mobile health unit to bring RVMW’s clinical services directly to those in need. Mirroring the setup of a traditional clinic, the mobile unit is equipped with a full staff, laboratory, and a range of other services that help bridge the healthcare gap in underserved communities.
“We’ve been listening to our patients and community leaders the last couple of years and learning where the greatest areas of need are, and we know that there are different needs in each corner of the state,” Dr. Martin explains. “We also recognize the staffing shortages across our Arkansas communities and the mileage patients must travel to reach substance use services.”
In rural areas, clinics offering specialty services like addiction medicine can be up to 40 miles away. This distance puts a great burden on rural communities, limiting their access to care they desperately need to get better.
“We encourage community members and organizations to reach out via our website, where they can be added to a mailing list or ask us for assistance in their community,” Dr. Martin says. “While we are aware of areas that are of great need, we want to be able to hear from and serve everybody.”
Community Collaboration Further Aids the Underserved
The ARMOR team is collaborating with churches, homeless coalitions, health departments, peer recovery organizations, and law enforcement agencies to build connections and offer solutions to the complex healthcare needs of the patients living in our communities.
“Some Arkansas counties do not have a physician or provider within the county limits, so we’re coordinating with as many organizations as we can to find providers who are willing and able to provide needed care,” Dr. Martin says. “We also train people on Naloxone administration. As long as we continue to have the supply, we will provide free Naloxone to those who need it.”
Dr. Martin and her team serve anyone who wishes to be seen. They see patients covered by all kinds of insurance and even have grants available to provide those with OUD and SUD medical care, mental health care, and prescriptions for treatment. “Patients interested can apply for the grant within our mobile unit or call River Valley Medical Wellness to determine their eligibility,” she says.
The mobile unit also includes Peer Recovery Support Specialists who can connect patients without insurance to local insurance providers and help them apply so that they can continue to receive care and medication.
Future Impact
While the program only has one mobile unit traveling throughout the state, the goal is to reach all areas of the state to serve all in need. “One mobile unit is not enough to accomplish our goal,” Dr. Martin says. “So, we’re cautiously optimistic about a second unit, but ultimately, through funding and partnership opportunities, we can help people not feel isolated or suffer from addiction due to a lack of services in their area.”
Dr. Martin also hopes that providers from other parts of the state will be interested in starting similar programs within their clinics. By providing education on how to better serve the population who suffer from addiction, the ARMOR program team hopes to ease the minds of clinicians and healthcare professionals caring for patients with SUDs.
“It can be overwhelming and intimidating to provide this type of care without knowing what the care model looks like, so we’ve actually had providers come to our clinic to see what it looks like to integrate addiction medicine into a primary care clinic,” Dr. Martin explains. “We really want to be able to assist communities where providers are interested in learning how this integration works so that they can stop by and see for themselves. We look forward to providing opportunities for providers to volunteer, learn, or get trained on how to integrate these types of services into their care.”
Under Dr. Martin’s leadership and support, the ARMOR initiative showcases the power of innovative, compassionate healthcare solutions in reaching and healing vulnerable populations. Through an integrated approach and a dedicated team, ARMOR is making significant strides in delivering essential services, offering a lifeline to Arkansans grappling with substance use disorders.
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