Harmful alcohol use affects millions of adults across the United States each year. Fortunately, however, data from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reveals that early detection of alcohol use through screening tools, followed by counseling intervention, may prevent harmful alcohol use.
Recently, the Brigham mandated that all trauma patients be screened with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, or Audit C—an alcohol screening protocol identified by the USPSTF as one of the most accurate screening tools available. All Brigham patients who screen positive, therefore, must receive a brief intervention and referral to services. Brigham’s Trauma Division has a mandatory goal of screening 80 percent of patients upon admission and providing substance use intervention to 100 percent of those patients who screened positive.