Combatting the Opioid Epidemic
Prescription drug and opioid misuse is a growing national health emergency that impacts every community in Michigan. From 1999 to 2016, the total number of overdose deaths involving any type of opioid increased more than 17 times in Michigan, from 99 to 1,689, according to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services.
The MHA Keystone Center has a long history dedicated to decreasing opioid misuse, working with member hospitals to educate patients, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with opioid use.
Emergency Department Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
The Emergency Department (ED) stands at the frontlines of the opioid crisis, encountering patients battling substance use disorder every day. While addressing acute medical needs is crucial, healthcare professionals and organizations can – and should – be more involved in treating opioid use disorder patients beyond immediate stabilization.
The MHA Keystone Center collaborated with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CSEFM) and the Michigan Opioid Partnership (MOP) to provide free, peer-to-peer learning opportunities with clinical consultants, including office hours, learning collaboratives and round tables to increase awareness for ED Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) work and decrease opioid-related injury and death in Michigan. These dynamic, virtual spaces provided experts the opportunity to come together to:
- Beat the stigma: Raising awareness, educating the public and fostering a compassionate environment where patients feel safe seeking help.
- Ask tough questions: No question is off limits as we dive into the successes and challenges of ED-based MOUD, and work to assist members in implementing ED MOUD in hospitals.
- Share best practices: Let’s learn from each other’s successes and troubleshoot challenges collaboratively.
- Forge impactful partnerships: Connect with specialists, organizations and other leading experts to build a robust support network for patients and clinicians.