This program makes medications for opioid use disorder available throughout the healthcare system
Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) but access to MOUD is often limited. To increase access, the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center designed the System-Wide MOUD (SW-MOUD) program, which has two objectives, (a) expand access to MOUD across emergency, inpatient, and outpatient settings, and (b) coordinate care for patients across these settings using integrated program staff.
As described in a presentation on SW-MOUD, healthcare settings connected by the program include emergency departments, inpatient hospitals, ambulatory specialty clinics, and primary care practices. Patient care across settings is facilitated by social workers, peer support staff, and dedicated MOUD care coordinators, maximizing the chances that addiction services are accessible and maintained throughout the system. A journal article describes program implementation and operations, suggesting that SW-MOUD is a viable model for increasing access to addiction treatment. Contact information for the program is available at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center website.
Providing evidence-based medication treatment throughout the healthcare system increases the chances that individuals with opioid addiction get the help they need.