New York State Emergency Department Assessment Treatment and Referral of Individuals Presenting to the Emergency Department with Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid dependence and addiction are classified as severe medical conditions that cause adverse effects on the individual, their family, and society as a whole. The increasing number of opioid overdose cases and deaths has posed a significant challenge for emergency departments (EDs) as they play a crucial role in providing immediate medical attention to patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). The consequences of OUD are alarming, with high morbidity and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to examine the policies, practices, and barriers to adherence to nationally recognized clinical best practices for treating patients with OUD in New York State (NYS) EDs. Adherence to established guidelines for treating OUD is critical in saving lives by preventing relapses and overdose deaths as well as promoting long-term recovery. However, provider practices often do not align with nationally recognized guidelines, and healthcare organizations face several barriers, such as a need for more resources and administrative nonprioritization of the issue in adhering to these guidelines. This descriptive study was conducted using a survey and the PRECEDE-PROCEED model framework that offers a structural approach for organizational planning, intervention, and implementation of policies and procedures for standardizing OUD best practices in ED settings. The study aimed to assess NYS ED provider practices, policies, barriers, and facilitators in adherence to nationally recognized clinical best practices for treating individuals with OUD. The study findings indicated that only 23% of the respondents reported being aligned, with around 80% of nationally recognized as clinical best practices for treating individuals with OUD and a mere 14% being aligned with all best practices. These results suggested that there is high variability in provider practices and a lack of adherence to established best practices by providers and institutions. Implementing best practices can be achieved through standardization of practices across NYS EDs, ensuring that all patients in NYS receive the same level of care, regardless of the healthcare organizatio