Health Department | Page 6

New Patients Average Days to Third Next Available Appointment* New Well Baby Initial Exam 12 days New Adult Initial Appointment 19 days Dental 18 days Outpatient Psychiatry 41 days *The third next appointment is the industry standard for determining appointment availability. New Patients Addictions Treatment Program Detox Addictions Treatment Program Rehab Women’s Residential Services Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Services Wait Time Prior to Program Admission 10 days 21 days 21 days 18 days Emphasis on Prevention/Access to Prevention and Wellness Goal: Reduce Illness, Disability and Death Related to Tobacco Use and Second Hand Smoke Exposure By June 30, 2014, establish a baseline of how many Behavioral Health Services (BHS) clients use tobacco. By June 30, 2016, reduce by 5 percentage points the number of Behavioral Health Services clients who use tobacco. Progress: 2014 Goal Met Tobacco dependence among individuals with mental health disorders and/or substance addiction is a tremendous problem that goes largely ignored. Persons with chronic mental illness die 20-25 years earlier than the general population and tobacco usage is a major reason why. The Health Department found that 41% of its Outpatient Mental Health Services patients used tobacco. (In comparison, 20% of the general population uses tobacco.) Since 5% of 41% is 2.05%, 2.05% was subtracted from the 41% baseline to determine the 2016 goal of 39%. Despite popular belief, persons with mental illness and addictions want to quit smoking, want information on cessation services and resources, and, most importantly, they can successfully quit using tobacco. One study found that 52% of individuals addicted to cocaine, 50% of those who abuse alcohol, and 42% of individuals addicted to heroin were interested in quitting smoking at the time they started treatment for their other addictions. 6