ED Staff and Patients with OUD

With research funding from IRIS, University of Maryland Medical Center’s Systems Evaluation Center conducted a pilot study across six Maryland hospital emergency departments (EDs) that use Mosaic Group’s Reverse the Cycle (RTC) program. A key goal of the RTC model is to reduce stigma towards patients with, and medications for, opioid use disorder (OUD).

The study included 66 ED staff and used The Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire to measure attitudes toward patients with OUD. Results showed a statistically significant relationship between greater exposure to RTC and positive attitudes towards this population. This change was driven by greater role adequacy and staff satisfaction. The more staff were exposed to RTC, the more likely they were to feel knowledgeable about OUD and able to advise patients. They were also more satisfied with their ability to perform their jobs.

RTC is a comprehensive hospital substance use response program based upon streamlining emergency department overdose response, medication-assisted treatment, and interventions led by peer recovery coaches. Starting the program with a ‘change team,’ the model is multifaceted and takes place over a year. Learn more about the nationally recognized consulting firm, Mosaic Group, and their RTC program here.

“Organizational Factors Associated With Practitioners’ Support for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department”
Write-up by IRIS team member: Yali Deng

Patients with opioid use disorders (OUD) often seek emergency department (ED) services to treat opioid use-related health emergencies, especially overdose. Some best practices for ED practitioners’ response within opioid-related visits include screening for OUD, initiating medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for OUD, and providing referrals to treatment. However, there are external and internal barriers to implementing these practices in EDs. Attitudes held by ED practitioners towards patients with OUD and treatment of OUD are critical in implementing these practices. Read more...

“Hospital-Based Clinicians Lack Knowledge and Comfort in Initiating Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Opportunities for Training Innovation"
Write-up by IRIS team member: Victoria Barreira

This article explores factors that may contribute to hospital medical staff underutilizing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) for their patients. By examining staff’s knowledge, attitudes, and motivations towards patients with OUD based on whether they had or had not initiated MOUD for patients in the last year, authors aimed to identify quality improvement initiatives to improve patient care. Read more...

University of Maryland School of Social Work
BHWISE Substance Use Disorders Interventions Fellowship

To help increase Maryland’s workforce of human service professionals who can provide services to persons with substance use disorders (SUD), a fellowship has been established at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. The Substance Use Disorder Intervention Fellowship (SUDIF) provides significant financial support (up to $28,000) and targeted classes/field experiences for incoming MSW students who want to work in agencies that provide services to persons who are struggling with substance use. SUDIF is currently recruiting for the fall of 2024. Find the applications and information here.

JEAP Initiative Forum Series
Peer Recovery Support Services: Model Standards for a Critical Recovery Support Service

Nov. 30 1 – 2 PM

Dec. 7 4 – 5 PM

Virtual

The JEAP Initiative and the Consortium on Addiction Recovery Science (CoARS) Peer Recovery Support Services Workgroup are co-sponsoring a free virtual forum series on peer recovery support services. This forum series is intended for individuals interested in advancing research on peer recovery support services. The November forum will involve a panel of peer recovery support specialists and administrators who will discuss the impact of the SAMHSA standards on their respective peer training and certification processes. The December forum will feature Drs. Angela Hagaman and Craig Henderson, who will share results from a survey of peer recovery support specialists. Click here to register.

IRIS & Community Partners’ Conference Presentation
Community-Academic Partnerships to Improve Research Infrastructure Focused on Improving Opiate Use Treatment Recovery Services

Jan. 14

8 – 9:30 AM

Marriott Marquis, Washington D.C.

Current and former IRIS staff, On Our Own of Maryland, and People Encouraging People will present a symposium at the Society of Social Work Research (SSWR) 2024 conference in Washington, D.C. IRIS will present how researchers and community partners work together to develop evidence-based practices, as well as the Maryland landscape of recovery support services. Partners will present on measuring quality of life with people experiencing homelessness and OUD, and an evaluation of a peer developed anti-stigma workshop for staff supporting those with OUD. Click here to register for the conference.

Learning Collaborative Member Publication
Stakeholder-Driven Development and Implementation of CRICIT: An App to Support High-Quality Data Capture and Protocol Monitoring for Outpatient Clinical Trials With Vulnerable Populations

Katie Clark of Yale School of Medicine and colleagues recently published an article in which they document their process for the development and utilization of an electronic data capture system (EDC) for a multisite randomized control trial (RCT). The RCT evaluated the efficacy and implementation of an enhanced primary care model for people with OUD who are re-entering the community from incarceration. Read the publication here.