Emergency Department Clinical Public Health Program

Project POINT (Planned Outreach, Intervention, Naloxone, and Treatment) is a team of certified peer recovery coaches who offer wraparound services for patients who present to the Michael & Susan Smith Emergency Department with a substance use disorder. This project works to remove the barriers to recovery by connecting patients to treatment facilities, insurance, transportation, medication-assisted treatment and many other services.

Project POINT
Monday – Friday, 7:30 - 12 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 10 p.m.
317.880.9344

Supported by grants from the Indiana Department of Health and Ryan White Part A, Emergency Department Clinical Public Health Program staff offers free HIV point-of-care testing to all patients meeting criteria. The test, which provides a preliminary result in just one minute, is performed by collecting a small amount of blood through a fingerstick. Labs are ordered for patients needing additional testing to confirm a preliminary reactive result.

Additionally, patients meeting criteria may be tested for HIV through lab-based testing efforts supported by a grant from Gilead Science’s FOCUS Program.

These HIV lab tests are monitored by Emergency Department Clinical Public Health Program staff members who work to inform patients of their results and make appropriate referrals.

Patients interested in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that can prevent HIV infection, will receive a referral to a PrEP provider. Staff is also able to offer post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to patients within 72 hours of a possible exposure to HIV. When visiting the Michael & Susan Smith Emergency Department, it is important to specifically communicate this need with your provider since this is a time-sensitive service.

Patients already diagnosed and living with HIV may meet with staff during their visit or receive a follow-up call as a courtesy to assess any needs and engagement in care. Referrals to needed services may be provided with the consent of the patient. For more information, please call 317.646.3616. 

Patients meeting criteria visiting the Michael & Susan Smith Emergency Department may be tested for hepatitis C through a lab test funded by Gilead Science’s FOCUS Program. All patients tested for hepatitis C through this program are monitored, and any patient diagnosed with an active hepatitis C infection is contacted and assisted in pursuing treatment if interested.

Additionally, patients already diagnosed with hepatitis C who are interested in pursuing treatment are also able to receive support linking or relinking to care.

For more information or assistance linking to care, contact please call 317.646.3616.

Sexually transmitted diseases are another area of focus for the Emergency Department Clinical Public Health Program. Staff will contact patients to deliver positive test results, discuss information to prevent further transmission and prevent reinfections, and review recommendations for retesting. Patients who were not treated during their visit will receive information on their options to access medication. Patients with concerns about a sexually transmitted infection should talk with their provider. Partner treatment may also be offered at the discretion of the provider.

Available services are subject to change. For more information, please speak with Emergency Department Clinical Public Health Program staff.