While frontline providers have their hands full with COVID-19, overdose deaths are surging across the country. Some experts argue now is the perfect time to implement needed reforms in care for patients with opioid use disorder. In particular, they say it is time to fully leverage emergency departments in the quest to initiate these patients on treatment and connect them with ongoing care.
This is an issue loaded with nuance. Much depends on such factors as how someone works in the emergency department (ED), what procedures they perform, what specific practices they use when performing those procedures, and how often they are exposed. A multidimensional study that seeks to capture all these complexities is well underway, with the goal of delivering solid answers to nurses, physicians, and even many nonclinical personnel who staff EDs across the United States.
Responding to an identified need in the community, Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham created a Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) to prioritize mental health care for youth. Mental healthcare professionals divide their time between assessing patients who present to the emergency department with mental health concerns and providing guidance to families who call the PIRC for help.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close, children with developmental delays and intellectual disabilities lost a structured environment. This has led to growing frustration and burnout among children, parents, and other caregivers.
With frontline healthcare workers across the country facing unprecedented burdens, there is ample evidence of stress, anxiety, and other behavioral health concerns. Experts note it is critical for leaders to prioritize workforce well-being, and to facilitate connections to treatment and other forms of support, as needed.
