Chicago Practice Improvement Collaborative

MISSION

The Chicago Practice Improvement Collaborative (CPIC) is developing and helping sustain lasting partnerships among Chicago-area researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and consumers for the purposes of improving clinical outcomes in alcohol and substance abuse treatment; adopting evidence-based practices; exchanging knowledge about practice-relevant research and technologies; and influencing policies that affect substance-related research and practices. The CPIC is working with stakeholders to implement targeted, evidence-based, substance abuse treatment practices and to evaluate implementation strategies.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Illinois Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC)
• Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (GLATTC)
• Community-based drug treatment providers (16 agencies)
• Local researchers (University of Chicago, Northwestern, Loyola University, University of Illinois at Chicago)
• Policymakers (Illinois Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Directors of Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, and Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Professionals Certification Association)
• Director of Recovery Community Support Program (consumer advocate)

GOVERNANCE

The Executive Committee members include the Principal Investigator, Project Director, Chairperson of the Advisory Board, representatives from GLATTC, and, on a rotating basis each year, a member of the research community and provider community. The Advisory Board consists of CPIC stakeholders. The Core Management Team consists of the Principal Investigator and Project Director. The Core Management Team coordinates all day-to-day activities.

STAKEHOLDER EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT

In June 2001, a training session, held for approximately 50 providers, presented the concept of technology transfer and discussed the organizational adaptations necessary to prepare providers to implement evidence-based practices. The CPIC hosts a website and publishes a newsletter, both of which have focused on topics identified by stakeholders as being important in implementing evidence-based practices. The first issue of the newsletter, published in April 2001, focused on buprenorphine.

PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES

• Methadone maintenance
• Women in recovery
• Pharmacological treatments for criminal justice populations
• Management of infectious diseases

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

• Identify potential areas of resistance to "readiness for change" in organizations participating in academic detailing for methadone
• Conduct education sessions for methadone maintenance providers to adopt the academic detailing model
• Conduct education sessions for substance abuse providers on drug testing as a treatment adjunct with methadone clients
• Train members of courtroom workgroups on the latest pharmacological treatments and other services for opioid users
• Intervene to help women stay connected to their families throughout the recovery process
• Educate staff in methadone programs on strategies to increase HIV-positive clients' adherence to medications
• Create a compendium of information for drug treatment providers on infectious diseases
• Implement a gender-responsive curriculum for criminal justice and treatment staff working with women

EVALUATION ACTIVITIES

• Evaluate organizational readiness in four methadone maintenance therapy programs to use the academic detailing model for methadone dosing
• Evaluate the implementation of academic detailing for methadone dosing
• Assess organizational readiness to implement evidence-based treatment protocols in methadone maintenance
• Test the adoption of a strengths-based model of case management for recovering women
• Conduct a satisfaction survey of women in drug treatment
• Survey persons in treatment regarding their use of public and private health care services
• Evaluate the use of an infectious disease compendium in developing case management strategies and in using the health care referral network

CONTACT INFORMATION