Many studies have highlighted the importance of effective interprofessional care teams to improve health outcomes for people with complex needs. But many programs do not take advantage of the special training of social workers to meet these needs on their primary health care teams.

It is relatively common knowledge among those that treat patients in a hospital setting that addiction-related issues are the number-one driver of extended length of stay, 30-day readmissions, and job-related dissatisfaction and burnout.

Effective complex care means first understanding the individual and the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives. Here are two stories of patients in the CareMore Touch program for people with institutional special needs.

Addiction is a chronic neurobiological disorder that is predictable, identifiable, and treatable. Dr. Corey Waller explains why evidence-based treatment needs to be in hospitals, primary care, stand-alone rehabs, and throughout the ecosystem of health care.

Organizations, whether non-profit or for-profit, need a return on investment in order to carry this work forward and continue to invest in innovation.

Discusses the Blueprint for Complex Care — a joint project of the National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs, the Center for Health Care Strategies, and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement — which is acting as a strategic plan for the emerging field of complex care.