The BARC 23-Hour Triage Hold Bay

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC) offers a comprehensive range of services for persons age 18 and older affected by substance abuse and/or co-occurring disorders. BARC developed the 23-Hour Triage Hold Bay, an innovative service to respond to capacity needs and reduce costs and dangers associated with lack of detox bed availability for county residents. Patients receive medical care and monitoring for up to 23 hours, while waiting for a bed in our inpatient detoxification unit or until the patient is stable enough for release, rather than being sent away or to an emergency department. In providing this care, BARC efficiently extends the limited bed capacity we can offer and reduces costly hospital visits and potential overdoses. Over the past year, BARC has served 595 adults in this program, both admitting them into detox when a bed became available or providing care until they were sufficiently stabilized to be released with interim care. In 2020, the program has resulted in 350 less individuals being turned away due to lack of bed availability versus the previous year, a 29% reduction. Since BARC serves almost exclusively indigent patients, the program saves resources in transport, emergency department visits, and potentially saves many lives.