Ohio State Wexner Medical Center East Hospital started a pilot project in February to help impact the opioid epidemic. Patients addicted to opioids often present in the ED for care, providing a natural point of entry to begin addiction treatment.
Based on a study done at Yale, the program gives patients buprenorphine in the ED to help manage cravings and are discharged with a short-term prescription of it. While in the ED, a social worker will meet with the patient to connect him or her with resources to continue recovery, including follow-up primary care appointments to continue receiving buprenorphine and behavioral health resources.
The Yale study showed that this intervention model increased the likelihood that patients would continue on with treatment. East Hospital hopes to see similarly positive results in Columbus.
For questions about the program, contact Ken Groves, MSN, RN, at Kenneth.groves@osumc.edu.