HYBRID EVENT: You can participate in person at Orlando, Florida, USA or Virtually from your home or work.

6th Edition of Global Conference on

Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry

October 20-22, 2025 | Orlando, Florida, USA

GAB 2022

Office based addiction treatment program update and outcome measures

Speaker at Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry 2022 - Mohammad Zare
UTHealth and Harris Health System, United States
Title : Office based addiction treatment program update and outcome measures

Abstract:

Harris Health is the largest safety net care system in Texas and the fourth largest safety net in the nation. The patient population is comprised of a high rate of uninsured/underinsured patients, of which many have chronic diseases, including substance use disorders. 

Access to treatment for substance use disorders has been somewhat limited due to multiple reasons such as resource constraints, increasing demand for mental as well as behavioral health.

Harris Health System’s Ambulatory Care Services/University of Texas Health McGovern established the Office Based Addiction Treatment Program (OBAT) for the past 5 years.  Harris Health’s OBAT Program is based on the Massachusetts model of Office Based Addiction Treatment where patients are in a primary care setting and the care of the substance misuse patient is seen through the lens of a chronic disease model. This program is aimed at integrating treatment for opioid use disorder in primary care. This innovative program utilizes a nurse care manager role working closely with waivered physicians.

The patient’s treatment regimens include physical, social, behavioral and mental health.  The implementation of Evidence Based Practice models of care ensure that our teams are constantly improving clinical care delivery models through technology, partnerships with community resources, education and research.

The multidisciplinary approach is used in multiple Harris Health clinical sites which entails the collaboration between the Physician (PCP), Nurse Care Manager, Psychiatrist, Behavioral Therapist, Social Worker/Case Managers, Patient Educators, Pharmacists, Information Technology and community resources such as Harris Center, House of Extra Measures, Houston Recovery Center and  Houston STAR Drug Courts.

Our presentation will encompass the leadership journey, the model of care, treatment goals, bridging the treatment gaps, enhancement of access to care and clinical outcomes data.

Biography:

Dr. Mohammad Zare studied Medicine at the University of Texas in Houston, Texas and graduated in the Residency program at UT Health- Department of Community and Family Medicine in 1996.  He served as a Medical Director for 13 years in Harris Health System.  Dr. Zare also served as the Assistant Chief of Staff and eventually Chief of Staff in 2010- 2020.  Currently serving in a Faculty physician and Associate Professor of Family Medicine.  He is also currently the Vice Chair in the Department of Family and Community Affairs.  Dr. Zare is engaged in numerous publications and speeches across the country for the past 20 years. 

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