LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — A primary care doctor in the Capital Region is making strides in the fight against opioid addiction with a unique approach. Dr. Mark Oldendorf, who runs Oldendorf Medical Associates in Loudonville, has established a sub-clinic called Bridgeway to provide opioid addiction treatment.
Dr. Oldendorf explained that the concept of treating opioid addiction in a doctor’s office is not entirely new. “In the year 2000, the federal government passed an act that allowed physicians in private practice to do what they call medication-assisted treatment for opioid abuse,” he said. Despite this, such treatment is still not widely seen or heard about. Bridgeway offers comprehensive support, including two full-time care managers who assist patients with transportation and insurance issues. “We have two full-time care managers here who help them with getting transportation, that’s a big problem. If they’re not hooked up with insurance, we will have them talk with them and hook them up with insurance that they can afford,” said Dr. Oldendorf.
The clinic also employs a full-time clinical social worker and provides primary care. Many patients at Bridgeway are recently released from prison or the hospital and often suffer from infectious diseases related to intravenous drug use. “So we kind of put the whole package together and make the referrals and most importantly, we listen to them,” Dr. Oldendorf added…