ED Bridge

With the addition of the ED Bridge program, KYSOS now addresses the full continuum of care for Kentucky patients, treatment of pain and treating those with opioid use disorder (OUD). The newest initiative within KYSOS is the launch of the Emergency Department (ED) Bridge Program. The main objective of the ED Bridge Program is to ensure patients with OUD receive 24/7 access to care. EDs have an incredible opportunity to make OUD treatment accessible to all.

The state has ED Bridge Programs in place, making a difference in the lives of patients and their communities. However, the KYSOS team will continue to expand the ED Bridge Programs into acute care hospital EDs across the state. The KYSOS ED Bridge Program goal is to increase access to treatment and assist patients on their road to recovery, thus saving lives in Kentucky communities.

For more information about the ED Bridge program, contact Emily Henderson and Mary Beth Ecken.

Ambulance parked, with patient being rushed into the hospital
The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) partnered with UK HealthCare and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as part of the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE) to launch the Kentucky Statewide Opioid Stewardship (KY SOS) program.
 
The KY SOS Program is working with Kentucky hospitals to fight the opioid epidemic.  The program provides services to inpatient, outpatient primary care clinics, and has just expanded its bandwidth to include emergency departments (ED) across the Commonwealth. Reducing opioid overprescribing while improving safe opioid use in inpatient and primary care clinics in Kentucky continues to be the KY SOS mainstay and goal. With the addition of the ED Bridge program, KY SOS now addresses the full continuum of care for Kentucky patients, treatment of pain and treating those with opioid use disorder (OUD).
 
The newest initiative within KY SOS is the launch of the Emergency Department (ED) Bridge Program.  The main objective of the ED Bridge Program is to ensure patients with OUD receive 24/7 access to care.  EDs have an incredible opportunity to make OUD treatment accessible to all.  
 
The state has 11 ED Bridge Programs in place, making a difference in the lives of patients and their communities.  The KY SOS team will continue to expand the ED Bridge Programs into acute care hospital EDs across the state.  
 
The KY SOS ED Bridge Program goal is to increase access to treatment and assist patients in their road to recovery, thus saving lives in Kentucky communities.
The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) partnered with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as part of the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE) to launch the Kentucky Statewide Opioid Stewardship (KYSOS) program.
 
The KYSOS Program is working with Kentucky hospitals to fight the opioid epidemic.  The program provides services to inpatient, outpatient primary care clinics, and has expanded its bandwidth to include emergency departments (ED) across the Commonwealth. Reducing opioid overprescribing while improving safe opioid use in inpatient and primary care clinics in Kentucky continues to be the KYSOS mainstay and goal. With the addition of the ED Bridge program, KYSOS now addresses the full continuum of care for Kentucky patients, treatment of pain and treating those with opioid use disorder (OUD).
 
The KYSOS ED Bridge Program goal is to increase access to treatment and assist patients in their road to recovery, thus saving lives in Kentucky communities.
The ED Bridge Program is based on four Core Elements:
  1. Provide Low-barrier Treatment
    • Ensure buprenorphine is on hospital formulary and readily available for rapid, same-day treatment.
    • Assess and remove unnecessary barriers to treatment.
  2. Connect Patients to Ongoing Care in Community
    • Link patients to a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) that will provide support and follow-up.
    • Establish connections with at least one clinic or outpatient setting in the community.
  3. Nurture a Culture of Harm Reduction in ED Department
    • Identify a Clinical Champion who will be a key player in program.
    • Educate staff on medications for addiction treatment (MAT), treatment protocols, and referrals to community.
    • Provide naloxone to all patients upon discharge with history of overdose (OD), risk for OD, or opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis
  4. Collect Data to Measure Success
    • Track and report data through KY Quality Counts.
    • Generate support to sustain program.

*Adapted from California Bridge*

Map of Kentucky ED Bridge Program Sites

January 2024

ED Bridge Resources

TitleSummaryCategoriesTagsFile TypeLinkDatehf:doc_categorieshf:doc_tagshf:file_type
KYSOS Webinar: Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT): The Standard of Care for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

  • Download Presentation Slides
  • , , , wwwDecember 4, 2024ed-bridge outpatient provider-resources uncategorizedwebinarwww
    ED Bridge Encyclopedia of Measures

    Treatment Services for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
    Treatment Services for Stimulant Use Disorder (StimUD)
    Recovery Support Services Received in the Emergency Department
    Demographics
    Naloxone Distribution

    pdfSeptember 18, 2024ed-bridgepdf
    Measuring Peer Recovery Outcomes Toolkit: Showing the Impact of Peers in Meaningful Ways

    In partnership with OMNI Institute, the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence published this toolkit to help guide your program or organization through a values-driven process, resulting in an evaluation plan highlighting the most important aspects of peer recovery support. Information, worksheets, and resources are provided for each phase of the process, which includes identifying program values and related outcomes, choosing evaluation tools, plan implementation, and sustainability strategies.

    wwwSeptember 3, 2024ed-bridgetoolswww
    Naloxone Distribution Guide for Emergency Department (ED) Bridge Programs

    Please refer to this guide when requesting Naloxone as of July 1, 2024.

    , pdfJune 26, 2024ed-bridge naloxonepdf
    Naloxone Distribution in Emergency Department (ED) Bridge Programs

    , wwwJune 25, 2024ed-bridge naloxonewebinarwww
    Important Information About Your Opioid Prescription One-Pager

    This information is to help you better understand the risks and benefits of taking an opioid medication that is prescribed to you. It may also help you communicate better with your doctor or healthcare provider when discussing your pain management.

    , , , pdfJune 13, 2024ed-bridge inpatient outpatient patient-resourcespdf
    Naloxone Administration and Rescue Breathing Reference Cards

    Find Naloxone Now KY

    , pdfJune 5, 2024ed-bridge naloxonepdf
    KYSOS Webinar: Substance Use Disorder Nursing Education: Addressing Misconceptions

    , wwwMay 14, 2024ed-bridge opioid-use-stigmawebinarwww
    KYSOS Webinar: Maximizing the Role of Peer Support Specialists in the ED

    wwwApril 17, 2024ed-bridgewebinarwww
    NIDA Initiating BUP Resources for Prescribers

    Includes examples and cases for motivating patients (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

    , , , wwwApril 9, 2024ed-bridge inpatient outpatient provider-resourceswww
    Addictionary

    If we want addiction destigmatized, we need a language that’s unified. The words we use matter. Caution needs to be taken, especially when the disorders concerned are heavily stigmatized as substance use disorders are.

    , , , wwwApril 9, 2024ed-bridge inpatient outpatient provider-resourcestoolswww
    KYSOS Webinar: Impact of OUD Stigma

    , , , wwwMarch 28, 2024ed-bridge inpatient opioid-use-stigma outpatientwebinarwww
    Find Naloxone Now KY

    The Kentucky Department for Public Health Harm Reduction Program is excited to announce the launch of Find Naloxone Now KY, a statewide naloxone access portal and locator map that connects Kentuckians to 136 locations where naloxone is available locally and free of charge.

    , aspxMarch 18, 2024ed-bridge naloxonewebsiteaspx
    Find Recovery Housing Now KY

    Kentucky Recovery Housing Network

    wwwMarch 7, 2024ed-bridgewebsitewww
    MAT as the Standard of Care for OUD

    wwwFebruary 29, 2024ed-bridgewebinarwww
    Opioid Overdose Recognition and Response: A Guide for Communities and Bystanders

    Naloxone educational how-to and informational guide from the Department of Public Health

    , , , pdfFebruary 2, 2024ed-bridge inpatient naloxone outpatientpdf
    Opioid Overdose Recognition

    Kentucky Public Health

    pdfFebruary 1, 2024ed-bridgepdf
    Opioid Overdose Risk Reduction

    Kentucky Public Health

    pdfFebruary 1, 2024ed-bridgepdf
    Talking About Naloxone with Patients Prescribed Opioids

    This guide offers tips to help clinicians communicate the benefits of naloxone to patients, family members, and caregivers. (CDC)

    , , pdfFebruary 1, 2024naloxone outpatient provider-resources ed-bridgepdf
    When to Offer Naloxone to Patients

    Only 1 naloxone prescription is dispensed for every 70 high-dose opioid prescriptions. As a healthcare professional, you play a critical role in ensuring patients receive naloxone. (CDC)

    , , pdfFebruary 1, 2024naloxone outpatient provider-resources ed-bridgeguidelinespdf
    Initiating Buprenorphine Treatment in the Emergency Department

    National Institute on Drug Abuse

    wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridgetoolswww
    Naloxone Training Video

    , wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridge naloxonewww
    Findhelpnowky.org

    Enables patients and family members to find information about available substance use disorder treatment options in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

    , , , wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridge inpatient outpatient patient-resourceswebsitewww
    Emergency Department-Initiated Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder

    Assess OUD, opioid withdrawal, and treatment readiness for ED-initiated buprenorphine

    wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridgewebsitewww
    Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS)

    Quantifies severity of opiate withdrawal

    wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridgewebsitewww
    ED-Initiated Buprenorphine

    Yale School of Medicine

    wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridgewebsitewww
    Emergency Department Buprenorphine Treatment: A Toolkit for North Carolina Hospitals

    North Carolina Healthcare Association

    , wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridgetools websitewww
    California Bridge: Bridge to Treatment

    Transforming Addiction Treatment Through 24/7 Access in Emergency Departments

    wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridgewebsitewww
    Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition

    The Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition improves the public health of Kentuckians by reducing overdoses, overdose deaths, and the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and HCV.

    wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridgewebsitewww
    SAMHSA Help and Treatment Resources

    Find help and treatment

    , wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridge patient-resourceswebsitewww
    UNSHAME Kentucky

    UNSHAME Kentucky is a public health campaign aimed to reduce the addiction-related stigma held by Kentuckians across the state.

    , wwwJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridge opioid-use-stigmawebsitewww
    Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE)

    Cabinet for Health and Family Services

    aspxJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridgewebsiteaspx
    Naloxone and Syringe Exchange Locations

    Team Kentucky

    , , aspxJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridge harm-reduction patient-resourceswebsiteaspx
    Prescription Drug Disposal Locations

    Find a Prescription Drug Disposal Location

    , , aspxJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridge harm-reduction patient-resourceswebsiteaspx
    Hiring a Peer Support Specialist in Your Emergency Department

    The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) plays an integral role in the ED Bridge Program. The success of the program will be dependent upon the PSS as well as the other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

    , pdfJanuary 31, 2024ed-bridge peer-support-specialistpdf
    We Have Liftoff: Introducing Bridge, Fighting Stigma, Promoting Buy-In, and Tips to Success / Implementation of Programs to Initiate Buprenorphine in the ED

    wwwJanuary 30, 2024ed-bridgewebinarwww
    Naloxone: Tips for Prescribers and Pharmacists

    Recommendations, Key Points of Patient Education, Naloxone Products for Bystander Use, Pharmacist-Initiated Dispensing of Naloxone, Talking About Naloxone

    , pdfJanuary 9, 2024ed-bridge naloxoneguidelinespdf
    Kentucky Naloxone Copay Program Card

    KORE

    , pdfJanuary 9, 2024ed-bridge naloxonepdf
    Kentucky Naloxone Copay Program Flyer

    Guide for Prescribers and Pharmacists

    , pdfJanuary 9, 2024ed-bridge naloxonepromotional-materialspdf
    The Utility of Treating Opioid Use Disorder with Buprenorphine-Naloxone in the Intensive Care Setting

    , wwwDecember 12, 2023inpatient naloxone ed-bridgewebinarwww
    Incorporating Peer Support Into Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services

    SAMSHA TIP 64

    , pdfOctober 26, 2023ed-bridge peer-support-specialistguidelinespdf
    Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Linkage and Retention Recovery Coach Training Manual

    HEALing Communities Study KY and Voices of Hope Lexington

    , pdfOctober 1, 2023ed-bridge peer-support-specialistreportspdf
    2023 Naloxone Update

    , , wwwSeptember 26, 2023inpatient naloxone outpatient ed-bridgewebinarwww
    KAR PSS Regulations

    908 KAR 2:220. Adult peer support specialist.

    , pdfMay 2, 2023ed-bridge peer-support-specialistregulationspdf
    Kentucky Board of Pharmacy: 201 KAR 2:360 Naloxone dispensing

    Proposed Amendment

    , pdfSeptember 14, 2022ed-bridge naloxonepdf
    GPRA 2023 (6 month follow up)

    Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA): Client Outcome Measures for Discretionary Programs

    , pdfAugust 1, 2022ed-bridge peer-support-specialistformspdf
    GPRA 2023 Intake Form

    Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA): Client Outcome Measures for Discretionary Programs

    , pdfAugust 1, 2022ed-bridge peer-support-specialistformspdf
    Peer Support Services in Crisis Care (SAMSHA Advisory)

    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

    , pdfJune 1, 2022ed-bridge peer-support-specialistpdf