Q&A
Protocols for connecting overdose survivors with medication for opioid use disorder
0:59:23
ยท
149 sec
Council Member Narcisse inquires about specific protocols for connecting overdose survivors with medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in emergency departments and other settings. Dr. Schatz explains the patient-centered approach to care, focusing on treating withdrawal symptoms and engaging patients in long-term treatment. He emphasizes the importance of timely follow-up care and describes efforts to improve access and transition to outpatient services.
- The emergency department is a critical point of engagement for patients with opioid use disorder
- H+H focuses on treating withdrawal symptoms and engaging patients in long-term care
- Efforts are made to provide rapid access to follow-up care, including walk-in services and direct scheduling
- The system tracks the percentage of patients with opioid use disorder receiving MOUD in the emergency department
- Inpatient services aim for a 'hot handoff' to outpatient care to maintain patient engagement
Mercedes Narcisse
0:59:23
Okay.
0:59:25
Can you describe, the specific protocols for connecting overdose survivors in the ED or elsewhere with MUD, which is, medication for opioid use disorder.
0:59:41
Immediately open discharge, what data do you collect to ensure individuals actually follow through with the treatment?
Dr. Daniel Schatz
0:59:50
Thank you so much, chair, Narcisse.
0:59:52
I was really excited when I heard about your experience in the emergency department and is laser focused.
0:59:57
That is our that is where the patients are engaging our health system in the emergency department.
1:00:02
And exactly as you said, they might come in in the throes of withdrawal, and if any of us were in withdrawal, we would be acting that way as well.
1:00:09
When you provide, you know, patient centered evidence care, you can take care of their symptoms, relieve their suffering, and start talking about long term engagement.
1:00:18
That is a focus of ours and why the workforce training program is doing these live actor simulations that exactly act out the situation you described so that prescribies prescribers are aware of that and that if you treat it, they'll feel a lot better and you can engage them with care.
1:00:33
So we're looking specifically at the number of patients who have opioid use disorder, overdose, or coming in with withdrawal in the emergency department and seeing what percentage them are getting treat medications for opioid use disorder in the emergency department, noting that not every clinical situation are they ready for buprenorphine, or methadone.
1:00:53
So depending on that situation, they might not be ready for it in the emergency department, either because a patient isn't ready for it or because, clinically, they're not ready for it.
1:01:02
Importantly, it's not just about the medication in the emergency department.
1:01:05
It's about that follow-up.
1:01:07
It's why another primary focus of ours is access to care, and we can't wait 1 week.
1:01:11
We can't wait a month.
1:01:12
We want it to be as soon as possible.
1:01:14
That transition is the most critical piece there.
1:01:17
So we have, services that, have walk in services.
1:01:20
We're direct scheduling, where this is part of a a team effort where the emergency department is very much, in touch with our addiction services to make sure when they get the treatment that they follow-up in care and that they're maintained there at 3 at 30 days, at 90 days, and so on.
1:01:38
Furthermore, if they come to the inpatient, services, we, very much care about a hot handoff.
1:01:44
So it's the same team who might see the patient in the emergency department or in the inpatient unit that we earn their trust.
1:01:50
We say, please see us in the outpatient setting as well.