Why Trauma Care Can’t End at Discharge
Rebuilding lives through trauma-informed peer recovery and early intervention.
The Post-Discharge Reality There’s no single moment that defines our mission to create a more supportive, more effective care system. But there are pivotal ones. On February 18, our founder Matt Kalina traveled to Annapolis to testify in front of the legislature in support of HB 886 and ask for an amendment specifying coverage of trauma-informed peer recovery services.
This bill, and the requested amended language, would require payers in the state to support these services following injury and hospital discharge, including ones delivered digitally like TandemStride. We believe this is in the best interest of patients, because the numbers are clear, and show us the path to better outcomes.
A Data-Driven Roadmap to Recovery
Tens of thousands of Maryland residents visit emergency departments each year due to physical injury. The numbers show us a stark reality of what follows: 1 in 5 trauma survivors will develop PTSD (The Recovery Village, 2023), and nearly 30% will require ongoing support for mental or behavioral health conditions.
These patients not only suffer mentally, but without a roadmap for recovery, many fall into substance abuse patterns, face severe social challenges, and frequently return to the emergency room. They remain trapped in an overtaxed system through a lack of supportive, coordinated follow-up care.
Connection is Care
Peer support is one of the most effective ways to keep post-injury patients on the path of recovery. And it works best when it comes from a trauma-informed approach that’s structured, measured, and connected to the continuum of care. We believe it is absolutely vital in the time immediately following hospital discharge.
Our hope is that improving access for these patients while tracking their outcomes proves the transformative nature of substantial early intervention. Let’s not continue to react—let’s take the tools at hand and build something better.
