Sunday, May 19, 2024
5/19/2024
Maine EMS is the lead regulatory entity responsible for the oversight of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system within the State of Maine (State). As a result, EMS clinicians (EMTs, Advanced EMTs (AEMTs), and paramedics) throughout the state respond to medical emergencies related to persons experiencing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) including those that experience an overdose event. The State, in collaboration with community, local, regional, state, and federal partners, continues to work strategically to address the national opioid epidemic and ensure that Mainers have access to the widest array of resources possible. The rural nature of Maine means that often there are some communities that have fewer assets than others when it comes to support mechanisms for persons experiencing SUD. Throughout the State in 2020, there were over 30 overdose events per every 10,000 people in the state. These numbers correlate to national trends from 2020 that suggest that we still have significant hurdles ahead of us in managing the ongoing opioid crisis. To help bridge this gap, Maine EMS is submitting this proposal that aims at providing education, support, and connectivity to programs throughout the state. Our program will increase the capacity of the Maine EMS system to provide medical guidance and treatment modalities that are novel and cutting edge by bringing on increased medical director resources to the EMS office. Investing additional time in physician support will not only improve the quality of emergency care across the State, but it will also provide additional resources for the office to offer educational and outreach opportunities related to care of patients experiencing a SUD. The funding will significantly invest in training and educational support that will deliberately target stigmatization, naloxone administration training, and pathways to connect patients via their treating EMS clinicians to treatment options available within their communities. The program will bring on a staff member to assist in outreach coordination and project management as well as contractual support for monitoring and evaluation. The program will work collaboratively with existing programs and systems to support the long term sustainability of the project including partnerships with the University and or community college system, the Office of Behavioral Health and the Attorney Generals Office. These strategic partnerships will ensure the long term sustainability of the program and connectivity to existing resources rather than being duplicative and replicating similar programs that already exist within the State. The overarching goal of this program to better equip EMS clinicians with resources, knowledge, and skills not only treat patients who are experiencing an overdose related event connected to illicit substances, but also those with generalized SUD. Connecting these individuals with resources that are available throughout the state and providing an off ramp to existing resources is essential to minimizing EMS clinician burn out and compassion fatigue if there isn't an endpoint. This program is proposed to encompass four years of performance beginning on September 30, 2021 through September 30, 2025 and will require 766,726.21 annually to support this program.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
