Implementation of an Emergency Department Opioid Use Disorder Initiative: Clinical Processes and Institution Specific Education Improve Care

Background

Emergency department (ED) visits associated with opioid use and fatal overdoses increase annually. Emergency clinician-initiated medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) reduces mortality and improves treatment retention.

Objective

We describe and evaluate a program to implement MOUD at an academic ED using the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) framework.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients presenting to the ED who were eligible for MOUD. A multipronged MOUD program consisting of electronic health record (EHR) order set, email communications, and resident education was delivered over 1 year. Clinical processes were measured before and after program implementation, including buprenorphine and naloxone utilization and outpatient referrals for treatment.

Results

We identified 319 eligible encounters over the 2-year study period. Patients were predominantly non-Hispanic white men with a mean age of 40 ± 12.8 years. After program initiation, 109/189 patients (57.7%) were offered or initiated on buprenorphine, compared to 46/130 patients (35.4%) before (95% confidence interval). Protocol dosing was used in 92% of initiations. Outpatient treatment provider referrals increased from 46.1% (60/130) to 63% (119/189; 95% confidence interval). More patients in the postintervention group period requested buprenorphine during their visit compared to before the intervention (24.6% vs. 10%).

Conclusions

We observed improvements in the rate of buprenorphine prescription and outpatient treatment referrals at an academic ED following a quality improvement program implemented using the RE-AIM framework.