Automated text messages remind patients to check in on their cravings. Chatbots answer questions about withdrawal symptoms at three in the morning. Video consultations take place at kitchen tables rather than sterile clinic rooms. Workit Health has built a telehealth infrastructure that integrates medication prescribing with behavioral support and peer connection, all accessible through smartphones patients already carry.
The company’s research arm, Workit Labs, publishes findings that validate what two million Americans struggling with opioid use disorder desperately need to hear—virtual care works, and sometimes works better than traditional models. Studies in JAMA Network Open and the Journal of Addiction Medicine document retention rates, adherence patterns, and patient satisfaction metrics that exceed brick-and-mortar benchmarks.
Whole-Person Medicine Delivered Through Screens
Seventy-eight percent of Workit Health members beginning opioid treatment carry depression diagnoses. Eighty-one percent screen positive for anxiety. Addiction rarely arrives alone. Co-occurring mental health conditions, chronic pain, hepatitis C, and histories of trauma weave through most patient charts.
Workit Labs investigates how telehealth can address these intertwined conditions without forcing patients to navigate multiple disconnected systems. Current research examines perinatal care for pregnant people with opioid use disorder, HIV prevention services, hepatitis C screening and linkage, and chronic pain management alongside addiction treatment. The goal is to deliver coordinated care through a single platform rather than handing patients a stack of referrals to specialists across town.
Recent publications explore unconventional questions that affect daily treatment experiences. July 2025 research in the Journal of Patient Experience examined whether clinicians’ virtual backgrounds and attire during video visits influenced patients’ perceptions of their care. August 2025 findings in JAMA Network Open documented pharmacy barriers that blocked patients from filling buprenorphine prescriptions even after physicians approved them. These granular investigations address friction points that cause people to abandon treatment before medications can take effect.
Evidence From Rural Populations and Expectant Mothers
Sixty-two percent of rural patients remained enrolled in Workit Health three months after starting treatment, compared to 50% in other telemedicine programs serving similar geographic areas. 99% tested positive for buprenorphine at all checkpoints, proving medication adherence remained strong despite distances from medical offices.
Pregnant women face particular hurdles accessing opioid treatment. Judgment from healthcare workers, fear of child protective services involvement, and scarcity of providers willing to prescribe during pregnancy create deadly delays. Workit Health’s March 2024 study in JAMA Network Open tracked outcomes among expectant mothers receiving telemedicine care. Ninety-four percent of those who stayed with the platform continued treatment through six weeks postpartum. Every participant tested positive for buprenorphine after delivery, demonstrating perfect adherence.
The company received Small Business Innovation Research grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to develop technology that supports recovery without replacing human connection. Gamification elements encourage daily engagement. Automated check-ins collect data on mood and cravings. Electronic health record integrations allow Workit physicians to view hospital discharge summaries and emergency department visits.
April 2025 research in the Journal of General Internal Medicine explored whether GLP-1 receptor agonists—medications initially developed for diabetes and weight management—might reduce alcohol cravings. February 2025 findings in Addiction Science & Clinical Practice showed that mailing buprenorphine directly to patients’ homes improved retention compared with requiring in-person pharmacy pickups.
Robin McIntosh and Lisa McLaughlin, the founders of Workit Health, built their platform after experiencing America’s fragmented addiction infrastructure firsthand. Their lived knowledge shows through features that anticipate patient needs—evening appointment slots for people working day shifts, secure messaging that replaces frantic phone tag with clinic receptionists, and peer support groups that convene virtually so members avoid driving an hour each way.
Seventy-nine percent of rural patients tested negative for unexpected substances while receiving care. Engagement persists because the model meets patients where they already exist—geographically, technologically, and emotionally.
