Utilization of Pastoral Care Services for a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral-to-Treatment Program at an Urban Level I Trauma Center

Abstract

Excessive alcohol consumption is currently the third leading cause of preventable death within the United States, accounting for roughly 80,000 deaths each year. 1 Maier RV Controlling alcohol problems among hospitalized trauma patients. J Trauma. 2005; 50: S1-S2 Crossref Scopus (19) Google Scholar Excessive alcohol consumption also takes a toll on hospitals and health care centers, specifically emergency departments and trauma units. Each year, over 20 million adults in the United States sustain injuries requiring emergency care, and 15% to 20% screen positive for alcohol. 2 Rockett IH Putnam SL Jia H et al. Assessing substance abuse treatment need: a statewide hospital emergency department study. Ann Emerg Med. 2003; 41: 802-813 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (84) Google Scholar , 3 Teplin LA Abram KM Michaels SL Blood alcohol level among emergency room patients: a multivariant analysis. J Stud Alcohol. 1989; 50: 441-447 PubMed Google Scholar , 4 Soderstrom CA Session 2: substance-abuse interventions—setting the stage for discussion. J Trauma. 2005; 59: S77-S79 Crossref PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar , 5 Hungerford DW Recommendations for trauma centers to improve screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for substance abuse disorders. J Trauma. 2005; 59: 537-542 Google Scholar These figures increase further within the trauma department, where up to half of all trauma accidents are linked to alcohol use (25%-50%). 4 Soderstrom CA Session 2: substance-abuse interventions—setting the stage for discussion. J Trauma. 2005; 59: S77-S79 Crossref PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar , 5 Hungerford DW Recommendations for trauma centers to improve screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for substance abuse disorders. J Trauma. 2005; 59: 537-542 Google Scholar , 6 Babor TF McRee BG Kassebaum PA Grimaldi PL Ahmed K Bray J Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT): toward a public health approach to the management of substance abuse. Subst Abus. 2007; 28: 7-30 Crossref PubMed Scopus (673) Google Scholar Tiffany L. Overton is Trauma Research Associate, JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX. Gary Williams is SBIRT Program Coordinator, JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX. Shahid Shafi is Consultant, JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX. Rajesh R. Gandhi is Trauma Medical Director, JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX.