August 11, 2022
SWODA Press Release
South Western Oklahoma Development Authority (SWODA) and the Western Oklahoma Opioid Prevention Consortium announced today it has received its new mobile medical unit and will be collaborating with Red Rock Behavioral Health Services to provide treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) through telehealth.
The mobile medical unit will visit the communities of Altus, Hobart, and Mangum. On board the mobile medical unit will be a peer recovery specialist and a patient navigator. A Red Rock Behavioral Health Services physician, via telehealth, will treat underserved, uninsured, Medicare, and Medicaid clients for SUD/OUD. SWODA will collaborate with Red Rock to arrange scheduling assistance.
The Western Oklahoma Opioid Prevention Consortium, an advisory committee, was developed by SWODA Executive Director Debora Glasgow, Project Director Carol Binghom, and the SWODA Board of Trustees. Its overarching goal is to reduce the morbidity and mortality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in high-risk rural communities. A mobile medical unit will increase access to care for SUD/OUD clients.
“Offering dedicated medical teams and mobile services to address the impact of substance use disorder is a key strategy to combat the opioid epidemic, especially in the more rural areas,” said Debora Glasgow, executive director of SWODA. “We are pleased to provide this critical need in communities to prevent, treat and help Oklahomans recover from opioid use disorder.”
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,000,000 with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
For more information on the Western Oklahoma Opioid Prevention Consortium and these newly funded efforts, please visit the SWODA website at www.swoda.org. If further information is needed contact Carol Binghom, Project Director, carol@swoda.org or 580.562.5042 or Samantha Cowan, Patient Navigator, samantha@swoda.org or 580.547.9049.
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