Emergency Room Physicians Overcoming Barriers to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is working to address barriers to treating opioid use disorder in emergency departments across the country. ACEP, an ORN partner, has developed new trainings, podcasts and a mobile app, all aimed at its 38,000 members.

Emergency room physicians, Eric Ketcham, MD, FACEP, and Kathryn Hawk, MD, MHS, discussed these educational products in an episode of ACEP Frontline, a podcast that reaches over 5,000 listeners. Opening, Dr. Ketcham said: “We’re the ones engaging with patients with opioid use disorder when they’re really at their worst. We have this opportunity to engage with a very captive audience, treat them more effectively and compassionately when they’re in withdrawal and make a bridge into treatment." He describes the emergency room as “a catchment area for a lot of folks in crisis” and that emergency department physicians can make a significant mortality and morbidity impact. Read further.

The Collection of Opioid Response Network Brochures is Growing. At OpioidResponseNetwork.org you will find new prevention, recovery and American Indian/ Alaskan Native brochures.

Are You Interested in Exhibiting On Behalf of ORN? If so, please first check the exhibit tracking sheet to see if another party has already registered. If not, notify jane@aaap.org and nic@aaap.org. We are striving to avoid duplication and to also have TTSs exhibit as much as possible as it supports their role as the point person for each community. If you can not access the exhibit tracking sheet, please let Jane or Nic know.

Have You or a Requester Been Approached by the Media? If yes, that's great! If a news outlet wants to report on your work for ORN, we ask that you first inform jane@aaap.org and nic@aaap.org

and coordinate all efforts with the press through them. SAMHSA wants to make sure we are consistent in our message and it gives Jane and Nic an opportunity to help track and highlight for the website and newsletter. They are also available to help to prepare.

Read more.