All Major Insurance Accepted
CONTACT US
CHAT NOW
menu
Menu
two people holding hands
Gateway Foundation's

Hospital Warm Hand Off Program

Ensuring smooth transitions for patients with substance use disorders from hospital care to appropriate treatment facilities

See Current Partners

Table of Content

Table of Content

Laughing during a therapy session

About the Program

Since 2017, Gateway Foundation has been implementing the Warm Handoff Program to allows substance use disorder (SUD) treatment specialists to work on-site in hospital emergency and med-surge departments.

The Warm Handoff Program activates when hospital staff identify patients in emergency rooms with substance use disorders. A Gateway Foundation addiction specialist then performs an intake screening to determine the next level of care.

This integration allows the patient, hospital care providers, and SUD specialist care providers to communicate directly with one another, improving continuity of care and smoothness of transition for patients.

“Nearly 72% of those who die of an overdose averaged four previous hospital visits. If we don’t collectively address the core of someone’s substance use disorder, their next overdose could be their last. The Warm Hand Off program is saving lives,”
Karen Lambert | President at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital

blue banner
Program Structure

How It Works

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Initial Assessment

Initial Assessment

A Gateway SUD specialist works with the patient and the hospital care providers to create a comprehensive evaluation of patient’s needs and identify the appropriate next level of care.

Personalized
Transition Plan

Personalized
Transition Plan

A personalized plan is developed for the patient based on the evaluation and coordination with the receiving facility.

Warm Handoff Process

Warm Handoff Process

The patient and the patient’s family are directly involved in decision-making and the transition process. Current and future care providers also establish channels for on-going communication.
Around-the-Clock Care

Follow-Up Support

Follow-Up Support

Post-transition, regular check-ins are established to ensure all care needs are meet provide availability for crisis intervention if needed.
Medication-Assisted Treatment

Initial Assessment

Initial Assessment

A Gateway SUD specialist works with the patient and the hospital care providers to create a comprehensive evaluation of patient’s needs and identify the appropriate next level of care.

Personalized
Transition Plan

Personalized
Transition Plan

A personalized plan is developed for the patient based on the evaluation and coordination with the receiving facility.

Warm Handoff Process

Warm Handoff Process

The patient and the patient’s family are directly involved in decision-making and the transition process. Current and future care providers also establish channels for on-going communication.
Around-the-Clock Care

Follow-Up Support

Follow-Up Support

Post-transition, regular check-ins are established to ensure all care needs are meet provide availability for crisis intervention if needed.

Who We Work With

The program is a partnership between Gateway Foundation and various hospitals, including HSHS Illinois hospitals. Gateway Foundation staffs the warm handoff program at over twenty five hospitals across Illinois.

Current Partners

  • Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville (Advocate Health Care)
  • Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington (Advocate Health Care)
  • Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin (Advocate Health Care)
  • Ascension Mercy in Aurora (Ascension)
  • HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon (Hospital Sisters Health System)
  • HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield (Hospital Sisters Health System)
  • HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland (Hospital Sisters Health System)
  • Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood (Trinity Health System)
  • MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn (Trinity Health System)
  • OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria
  • Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park (Rush University System)
  • Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago
  • Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon
  • Vista Medical Center in Waukegan (Quorum Health)

This work is funded, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.

blue banner

Learn More About Gateway Foundation

Contact Us Today