Clinical Policies and Procedures

Effective Date: October 8, 2026
Responsible Clinician/Owner: Robert J. Tomlinson, Jr., M.D.
Arkansas Medical License: E0329
Practice Address: 102 East Sunbridge Drive, Suite 3
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703
Practice Phone / 24-Hour Coverage: 479-856-1505
Website: suboxrecovery.com

Purpose and services

Suboxone Recovery Center of Arkansas is an outpatient medical practice that evaluates and treats opioid use disorder and related substance-use concerns. Services include medical assessment, medication for opioid use disorder when clinically appropriate, individual counseling, telehealth, drug testing when clinically appropriate, medication management, recovery education, relapse-prevention planning, overdose-prevention education, 24-hour telephone availability, emergent after-hours visits when clinically appropriate and available, and referral or coordination with outside providers.

The practice provides services only within Dr. Tomlinson’s Arkansas medical license, professional competence, applicable law, and actual practice capabilities.

Clinician qualifications

Robert J. Tomlinson, Jr., M.D., is the owner, responsible clinician, and sole clinical staff member of Suboxone Recovery Center of Arkansas. He holds Arkansas Medical License No. E0329 and is responsible for patient evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, prescribing, counseling provided by the practice, telehealth care, drug-testing decisions, documentation, privacy practices, emergency coverage, referrals, complaints, and policy review.

Dr. Tomlinson received his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1986 and previously practiced as an orthopedic surgeon in Northwest Arkansas. His clinical experience includes medical evaluation, medication management, pain-related care, risk assessment, and coordination with other healthcare professionals.

Dr. Tomlinson is personally in recovery and participates in a 12-step recovery program. This lived experience supports a respectful, nonjudgmental, recovery-oriented approach to care; it does not replace individualized assessment, professional medical judgment, informed consent, or evidence-based treatment. Patients are not required to participate in a 12-step program, religious activity, or any particular recovery model to receive treatment.

Intake and assessment

Before treatment begins, Dr. Tomlinson performs and documents an individualized assessment. This includes substance-use history, overdose history, previous treatment, current medications, allergies, medical and psychiatric history, relevant social history, recovery goals, and current safety concerns.

The assessment evaluates withdrawal, intoxication, overdose risk, suicide risk, diversion risk, medical stability, and the appropriateness of outpatient care. Dr. Tomlinson reviews the Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program when required or clinically appropriate and orders laboratory or toxicology testing when medically indicated.

Patients who require emergency stabilization, withdrawal management, inpatient or residential treatment, urgent psychiatric care, or another higher level of care are referred promptly to the appropriate service or emergency department.

Informed consent

Before treatment, each patient receives understandable information about proposed care, expected benefits, foreseeable risks, alternatives, payment responsibilities, privacy rights, the complaint process, and patient responsibilities.

Medication consent includes discussion of benefits and risks, possible side effects, overdose risk, risks from mixing opioids with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedating substances, safe storage, diversion prevention, and the need to take medication only as prescribed. Consent is obtained and documented, as applicable, for telehealth, counseling, drug testing, medication treatment, and release of information.

Patients are encouraged to ask questions and may decline or withdraw consent as permitted by law and consistent with safe clinical care. Signed consents are maintained in the medical record.

Treatment, counseling, and follow-up

Dr. Tomlinson develops an individualized treatment plan with each patient. Depending on clinical need and patient preference, the plan may include medication management, individual counseling, recovery education, drug testing, relapse-prevention planning, harm-reduction counseling, and referrals.

Individual counseling is provided within Dr. Tomlinson’s professional competence and applicable licensure. Counseling may address recovery goals, medication adherence, coping skills, triggers, overdose prevention, relapse prevention, and coordination with other services.

Follow-up frequency is based on clinical need, patient stability, medication changes, safety concerns, attendance, testing results when used, and treatment progress. At follow-up, Dr. Tomlinson evaluates symptoms, medication response, side effects, adherence, safety, relapse or overdose risk, counseling needs, and necessary changes to the care plan.

Medication for opioid use disorder is evidence-based treatment. FDA-approved medications include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone; the practice provides or refers for these services only within its actual scope and applicable authority.

Telehealth

Telehealth is available when clinically appropriate and permitted by applicable law. Before each telehealth visit, the practice verifies the patient’s identity, current physical location, callback number, and ability to participate safely and privately. Telehealth consent is documented before services are provided.

The same standards of assessment, documentation, informed consent, privacy, and follow-up apply to telehealth and in-person care. If an in-person examination, emergency intervention, drug test, or higher level of care is needed, Dr. Tomlinson directs or refers the patient to an appropriate local resource.

Telehealth is conducted through a secure, privacy-protective platform. Patients are advised not to use public or unsecured settings when discussing protected health information.

Drug testing

Drug testing may be used as part of clinical assessment and treatment monitoring. Patients are informed of the purpose and process. Testing is ordered based on medical necessity, safety, treatment planning, and applicable law.

Results are interpreted in clinical context. A positive, negative, unexpected, refused, or missed test does not automatically result in discharge. Dr. Tomlinson discusses concerning results with the patient, assesses risks, documents the assessment, and modifies the treatment plan, monitoring, referral, or level of care when clinically appropriate.

Prescribing and medication management

Only Dr. Tomlinson, as the practice’s properly licensed and authorized physician, prescribes medication. Prescribing decisions are based on documented evaluation, diagnosis, medical necessity, risks, benefits, contraindications, drug interactions, and applicable federal and Arkansas requirements.

When prescribing buprenorphine or another controlled medication, Dr. Tomlinson documents the clinical rationale, medication and dose, patient instructions, follow-up plan, risk assessment, prescription-monitoring review when required or appropriate, and patient education.

Patients receive education on safe storage, not sharing medication, overdose prevention, and the risk of combining opioids with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedating substances. Early refill requests, reports of lost or stolen medication, possible diversion, and concerning test results are assessed individually and documented. The practice does not automatically discharge patients solely because of relapse, a test result, missed appointment, or suspected medication problem.

Privacy and record security

The practice protects patient information in accordance with applicable law, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 where applicable. Part 2 protects the confidentiality of substance-use-disorder treatment records and limits when those records may be used or disclosed.

Access to records is limited to Dr. Tomlinson and authorized service providers with a legitimate, lawful need for access who are subject to appropriate privacy obligations. Electronic records are protected through unique credentials, reasonable administrative and technical safeguards, secure communication, and access controls.

The practice provides patients with required privacy notices. Records are disclosed only with valid consent or when disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law, such as a qualifying medical emergency or other lawful exception. Any disclosure is limited to the information necessary for its permitted purpose.

Twenty-four-hour coverage and emergencies

Suboxone Recovery Center of Arkansas provides 24-hour telephone availability for any patient at 479-856-1505. Calls are answered by or promptly directed to Dr. Robert J. Tomlinson, Jr., M.D., who assesses the concern and provides appropriate clinical guidance, referral, or follow-up.

When clinically appropriate and available, the practice offers emergent after-hours visits to any patient. An emergent after-hours visit has a $100 additional charge, disclosed to the patient before the visit when circumstances allow. The charge does not substitute for emergency-department care and does not delay emergency referral when emergency care is indicated.

The practice is not an emergency department. Patients are instructed to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for suspected overdose, trouble breathing, chest pain, severe withdrawal, immediate suicide risk, or another life-threatening emergency. Urgent contacts, advice, emergent visits, referrals, and actions are documented in the medical record when practicable.

Referrals and care coordination

When patient needs exceed the scope of outpatient care, Dr. Tomlinson refers patients to appropriate resources. These may include emergency departments, withdrawal-management services, inpatient or residential treatment, psychiatric services, behavioral-health counseling, primary care, pain management, obstetric care, social services, peer recovery support, and community recovery programs.

With valid patient authorization when required, the practice coordinates with other clinicians and shares only information needed for continuity and safety.

Complaints and grievances

Patients may make a complaint verbally or in writing without retaliation. Complaints may be directed to:

Robert J. Tomlinson, Jr., M.D.
102 East Sunbridge Drive, Suite 3
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703
Phone: 479-856-1505

Dr. Tomlinson documents, reviews, and responds to complaints within a reasonable period and takes corrective action when appropriate. Patients may contact relevant licensing or regulatory agencies as permitted by law.

Discharge and continuity of care

Discharge, transfer, or changes in treatment are based on clinical judgment, patient safety, patient choice, and whether the practice can meet the patient’s needs. The practice does not abruptly terminate care solely because of relapse, a positive or unexpected drug test, a missed appointment, inability to pay, disagreement, or a suspected medication problem.

When discharge, transfer, or a change in care is appropriate, the practice provides reasonable continuity support. This may include discussion of the transition, referral to an appropriate provider or higher level of care, medication-safety planning, overdose-prevention information, appropriate records transfer with valid authorization or as otherwise permitted by law, and documentation of referrals offered and the patient’s response.

Quality review

These policies are reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a material change in practice operations, laws, regulations, services, or clinical standards. Dr. Tomlinson maintains current licensure, applicable registrations, and documentation of relevant education and professional qualifications.