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If you have just been newly diagnosed with SUD, these steps will support your recovery:

  • You will need to make 3 follow up care appointments with a behavioral health specialist (not your PCP):
    • Make sure you have an in-person or telehealth follow up care appointment for treatment within 14 days of your diagnosis.
    • You will need to make and keep two additional appointments for treatment within 34 days of your first follow up appointment.
  • The appointments can be either in-person, through telehealth (telephone/ virtual) or home-based therapy.
  • Identify and talk with your provider about any problems that may affect your ability to start and continue treatment (such as: remembering your appointments, transportation).
  • There are options available to help you start and continue treatment and receive support. You can ask your provider to refer you to a peer recovery specialist and/or care manager, or to help you find community-based supports.
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Metabolic monitoring may be an important part of treatment for children and adolescents 1–17 years who take two or more antipsychotic medications.

If your child takes two or more antipsychotic medications:

  • Make sure the child completes the following tests every year:
    • 1 blood glucose or HbA1c AND
    • 1 cholesterol or LDL-C test
  • Ask your child’s primary care provider’s (PCPs) office to help you schedule the required labs ahead of time (preferably during the child’s yearly well child/ physical health appointment).
  • Discuss the test results with your child’s PCP.
  • Ask questions and find out if there are any education options available to help you better understand the test results.
  • Ask the PCP’s office (or the child’s care manager, if they have care management services) to coordinate care with the behavioral health specialists treating the child.

It’s important to get the proper follow-up care within 7 days after you (or a family member aged six and older) are discharged from the hospital or an emergency department (ED) visit for mental illness or self-injurious behavioral concerns. 

Follow Up Care After Hospitalization

They will help you schedule an appointment with a behavioral health specialist (not your PCP) either in person or telehealth within 7 days of discharge (but not the same day as discharge).

To make sure you get the care you need:

  1. Schedule your follow-up care appointment with a behavioral health specialist ahead of time instead of going to a walk-in appointment.
  2. It is very important that you go to the scheduled appointment. 
  3. Talk with the hospital social worker or discharge planner about any problems that makes it hard for you to keep your follow-up appointment (such as: remembering the appointment, transportation, childcare, etc.)
  4. Ask the hospital social worker or discharge planner to coordinate care with any community-based programs you work with.
  5. The social worker or discharge planner can refer you to care management services, if you’d like someone to help you coordinate your care.
  6. For your convenience, your follow-up appointment can be in-person or through telehealth (telephone/virtual). This is highly recommended. 

Your follow-up appointment should be with a behavioral health specialist not your primary care provider.

Here are some examples of behavioral health specialists who can provide proper follow-up care:

  • Psychologist
  • Psychiatrist
  • Clinical social worker (LICSW, LCSW, LMHC) 
  • Mental health occupational therapist, 
  • Psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist
  • Neuropsychologist 
  • Psychoanalyst 
  • Professional counselor 
  • Marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
Follow Up Care After Emergency Department Visit

If you visit the emergency department for a mental health concern, it’s important that you schedule an in-person or telehealth follow-up care appointment within 7 days.

These tips will help you get the support you need:

  • Please make sure you have an in-person or telehealth follow up care appointment with a behavioral health specialist within 7 days.
  • Discuss your preferences for treatment with the emergency department provider before your discharge date.
  • Make sure the emergency department staff gives you discharge paperwork before you leave.
  • Ask the emergency department staff to share information about your visit with your PCP within 24 hours of your discharge.
  • Bring your discharge paperwork to your first follow-up appointment.
  • Follow your treatment plan and take medications as prescribed.
  • Ask for help coordinating care between your behavioral health and primary care providers.