Karen Rosene Montella Spark Award for Innovation in Women’s Health in RI 2016 Winner
![sparkaward](http://womenshealthcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sparkaward-300x200.jpg)
Corinna Roy receives Spark award for recipient Rebecca Boss, Acting Director, Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals and State Opioid Treatment Authority
For: Her development and implementation of the Anchor ED Program which connects overdose patients in Hospital EDs with peer to peer recovery support while they are being held for observation, a time when they are likely to be receptive to help from others who have lived the experience, and continues that care post visit to help them on a path to recovery and health.
Primary Evaluation Criteria:
Innovative research, education, clinical care and policy/advocacy that improves medical, behavioral and/or social health of women in Rhode Island at any point in their lifespan. Size of initiative is not relevant.
- The Program provides an innovative approach to reaching overdose patients who come to Hospital EDs and their families to improve outcomes and long-term recovery.
- The Program is reducing opioid overdose deaths, ED visits and, therefore, is impacting individuals, families and communities throughout the State as individuals begin a successful path to recovery.
Focuses on health and/or socioeconomic disparities in community
- The significant increase in opioid deaths in Rhode Island has become a public health crisis. Women have historically been low users of heroin but there has been a 100% increase in use among women nationwide since 2004. Rhode Island rates are rising and likely similar.
- Prior to this program patients routinely left the ED without being referred to treatment or recovery support services, a lost opportunity for intervention and successful continuity of care and a high likelihood that they would return.
Removes barriers to care or broadens reach of existing are centers
- The patients are more likely to agree to talk with an Anchor coach because of the peer to peer nature of the consult. To date, only 16 survivors have declined.
- The post ED support also enhances the chance that patients access recovery support services.
Has been in place for 1 year with demonstrable results
- Was launched in June 2014 and now a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist is available to all RI hospital EDs 24/7.
- Has successful statistics and qualitative support from ED providers and national organizations
Secondary Evaluation Criteria:
Links providers who deliver care and coordinate services or promotes the health of women
- Has developed a continuity of care from ED visit through recovery treatment and follow-up in the community.
- Uses appropriate providers at appropriate times of the patient’s visit
Expected transferability of process, service or program to other organizations
- Has already been implemented in all the EDs across the State and is being implemented in at least ten other states nationwide.
- The Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy has called it one of the most innovative programs in the country
- The Program is supported by Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, or “Anchor coaches” who go through a vigorous training and continuing education developed for the Program.
Ability to engage patients, clients and/or community in a meaningful way
- Most of the patients seen by the Anchor coaches have not been in a formal treatment program in the prior 12 months.
- 87.5% engagement on the 30th day following an ED visit after overdosing and 37.5% have accepted a referral to detox or medicated assisted treatment within one week after the ED visit.
Other Program Components:
- Provide warm handoffs to individuals and/or family members (if the individual is agreeable) to treatment and recovery resources
- Offer SUD education and support to any family member or friend supporting the patient’s recovery
- Provide the individual and/or family member(s) (if agreeable) specific education on overdose prevention, the use of Naloxone and how to obtain Naloxone
- Review “recovery planning” tool and/or additional resources to patients and their family members
- Continued contact for additional recovery support after discharge with first contact within 24 hours
- Followed by Anchor Recovery Community Center through recovery coaching, telephone recovery support, treatment referral and recovery housing.
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