Novant Health has launched a timely intervention for patients following an opioid overdose to strengthen the safety net supporting individuals in crisis.
To save lives and empower recovery, Novant Health community paramedics will begin responding to 911 calls alongside ambulances to offer medication assisted treatment to eligible patients immediately following an opioid overdose.
This program builds on another recent initiative at Novant Health's largest and busiest area emergency department to offer these treatments to patients who have overdosed or are facing withdrawal. Because many patients who are stabilized by emergency medical services (EMS) following an overdose decline to be transported to this hospital, the mobile program ensures more patients have immediate access to this treatment.
"We have strong community programs in place, but we also identified an opportunity to fill a missing link to help individuals struggling with opioid use disorder," said Rick O'Donnell, senior director of Novant Health Mobile Integrated Health. "This program is an important addition because we will be able to immediately offer patients a lifeline following an overdose, providing them a resource until they are connected with community support."
Under the program, Novant Health is expanding its community paramedics program serving New Hanover County. After patients are stabilized by EMS at the scene, a community paramedic will discuss medication assisted treatment. The FDA has approved the use of buprenorphine to treat opioid dependence. The medication supports patients in pursuing recovery without facing strong withdrawals.
If appropriate, the paramedic can provide the initial dose on-site and will provide additional assessments and doses in the following days to prevent relapse. Patients may be connected with Coastal Horizons Center's Quick Response Team, which already aims to reduce barriers to treatment following an overdose.
The mobile treatment program is supported by $1.6 million in funding over five years from New Hanover County and is part of the county’s overall strategic investments being made through the use of opioid settlement funds.
“As we have worked to develop the mental health and substance use disorder strategy to best serve our community, Novant Health has been a key partner in these discussions,” said New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Chair Bill Rivenbark. “By providing this valuable resource to our community paramedics, we have the opportunity to give our frontline responders additional tools to potentially save those who are experiencing an overdose. Coupled with the county’s commitment to preventative education and long-term treatment, we have the chance to truly change lives and help those in need.”
New Hanover County's support will fund two additional community paramedics over a five-year period, in addition to other programming expenses. Meanwhile, the state has reported continued overdose deaths across North Carolina.
"We know from our own experience and from published studies that patients who have overdosed are at higher risk for a repeated overdose, and that some of those patients will sadly overdose again within the next month," said Dr. Carrie Fales, an emergency medicine physician and medical director of Novant Health New Hanover EMS. "Long-term treatment needs persist after the ambulance pulls away, and we're grateful to launch this program to help support patients following a life-threatening event."
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