From Dr. Broderick: Bringing Science to Services
|
Eric B. Broderick,
D.D.S., M.P.H.
Assistant Surgeon General
SAMHSA Acting Deputy Administrator
|
In 2001, the Institute of Medicine released a report
stating that “Between the health care we have and
the health care we could have lies not just a gap, but
a chasm.” Among the myriad causes, according to
the report, Crossing the Quality Chasm, is a
lag of 17 years between the publication of health care
research results and their impact on treatment delivery.
To narrow this chasm, SAMHSA launched the Science-to-Services
agenda. A systematic, Agency-wide effort, Science to
Services brings effective, evidence-based mental health
and substance abuse interventions into routine clinical
practice. It also strengthens feedback from clinicians
to fine-tune and frame investigations by services research
programs.
This issue of SAMHSA News highlights the Blending
Initiative, a key effort to enhance communication between
the scientific and clinical communities.
Launched in 2001 as a joint effort by SAMHSA and the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Blending
Initiative seeks to bring important scientific findings
into mainstream addiction treatment practice more quickly
than in the past.
Underlying the Initiative is the idea that effective
practices based on scientifically tested evidence can
be described and packaged into readily accessible tools
and provided to treatment professionals. By supporting
these activities, the Blending Initiative has enabled
SAMHSA, for the first time, to bring research-based practices
to clinicians at almost the same time the research is
published in the field.
Research constantly expands the boundaries of our understanding
and our options for helping people with mental and addictive
disorders. But we cannot effect change unless we translate
our knowledge into action. The Blending Initiative provides
a bridge to achieving our ultimate goal, which is to
improve the quality of services that people receive to
enhance their recovery.
Eric B. Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H.
Assistant Surgeon General
SAMHSA Acting Deputy Administrator
« Previous Article
See Also—Next Article ยป
Back to Top
|