PROVIDENCE — Women & Infants Hospital’s Emergency Department has earned Level 3 Certification in opioid treatment, the first in the Levels of Care for Rhode Island Emergency Departments and Hospitals for Treating Overdose and Opioid Use Disorder, making it the eighth Rhode Island hospital certified in opioid treatment.
South County Hospital was also certified at Level 3 in September. The Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse aims for all hospitals and emergency centers to have at least a Level 3 certification in treating patients with opioid use disorder and overdoses. Level 3 certification requires that the hospital maintain the following standards:
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- Follow the discharge planning standards as stated in current law
- Administer standardized substance use disorder screening for all patients
- Educate all patients who are prescribed opioids on safe storage and disposal
- Dispense naloxone for patients who are at risk, according to a clear protocol
- Offer peer recovery support services in the Emergency Department
- Provide active referral to appropriate community provider(s)
- Comply with requirement to report overdoses within 48 hours to the R.I. Department of Health
- Perform laboratory drug screening that includes fentanyl on patients who overdose
Six Rhode Island Hospitals have earned Level 1 certification in opioid abuse and overdose treatment for their emergency departments:
- Our Lady of Fatima Hospital
- Roger Williams Hospital
- The Miriam Hospital
- Rhode Island Hospital
- Newport Hospital
- Kent County Hospital
Level 1 centers have made a commitment to establish themselves as Centers of Excellence and have the requisite capacity to meet the healthcare needs of the most complex patients with opioid use disorder and overdose, according to the DOH.
The levels of care, rated from three to one in ascending order of complexity, were established by the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse July 12 to standardize humane, evidence-based care of patients with opioid use disorder in the state’s emergency and hospital institutions.
RIDOH and the R.I. Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals presented the Level 3 certification to Women & Infants during the Governor’s Task Force Meeting Jan. 11.
“Many have patients, friends, family, and even colleagues who have been personally affected by addiction and opioid use disorder. While accidental drug overdose has been a growing problem across the nation, Rhode Island has been one of the most severely impacted states in recent years,” said Dr. Roxanne Vrees, medical director of emergency obstetrics and gynecology at Women & Infants Hospital and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
“With this designation, our team hopes to continue to do our part in ending the opioid epidemic and working to make a positive impact on the lives of so many who would otherwise be lost.”
Women & Infants’ plan has four fundamental areas focusing on treatment, overdose rescue, prevention, and recovery. The team developed organizational policies, clinical protocols, and institutional infrastructure to ensure that patients are managed appropriately.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
