Sunday, April 27, 2025
4/27/2025
Norwegian American Hospital FY20 ED-ALT Demonstration Program - To address the rising number of emergency department (ED) patients with co-occurring opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain management needs, Norwegian American Hospital (NAH), a safety net community hospital on Chicago’s west side, proposes its Emergency Department Alternatives to Opioids Demonstration Program (ED-ALT). Over the three-year project, 1,500 ED patients will gain access to evidence-based medical, psychological, and social alternatives to opioids. NAH serves seven zip codes on the west side of Chicago, where 40% of residents are low-income and 12% are uninsured. This area is the epicenter of the opioid crisis in Chicago, with high rates of opioid-related deaths. Many individuals seen at NAH’s ED have both an OUD and co-occurring pain conditions like low back pain, wound-related injuries, trauma, and withdrawal-related pain. ED-ALT will achieve the following goals: 1) increase identification and assessment of the medical, psychological, and social needs of patients with pain who are using opioids; 2) increase delivery of appropriate opiate replacement therapies; 3) increase delivery of appropriate, evidence-based alternative practices as related to co-occurring pain and OUD; and 4) enhance capacity of hospital staff to identify and meet the pain management needs of patients via training, technical assistance, and collaboration. The program begins with routine screening and evaluation of all patients in the ED, followed by a series of standardized medical, psychological, and social assessments. Patients with identified OUD and pain will work with NAH’s interdisciplinary team to develop an individualized treatment plan of appropriate, evidence-based practices (EBPs) such as medication assisted treatment (MAT), physical therapy, acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy, and couples/family/group therapy. Peer support specialists will also help ensure patients have access to a range of other needed services such as insurance enrollment assistance, food access, or transportation. An estimated 500 unduplicated ED patients will participate in each of the three years (1,500 total). NAH has experience with similar efforts, through a 2019 state grant to provide screening and warm handoffs to treatment for patients with OUD, and through participation in the multistate Midwest Alternatives to Opioid Project (ALTO), which has already helped the hospital reduce its prescription of opioids in the ED by 40%. Through ED-ALT, NAH staff will receive additional training and technical assistance to further their delivery of EBPs for this population. Data collection and analysis will help NAH evaluate the effectiveness of the various EBPs used. Regular communication and collaboration with referral partners, SAMHSA, and state agencies will ensure that lessons learned, challenges, and best practices are shared widely.
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).