The Florida Department of Health in Broward County will coordinate a multi-pronged, multi-sector, equitable approach to access high quality, complete and timely data on opioid prescribing and overdoses through enhanced surveillance activities and use the data to inform targeted and effective prevention and response through integrated planning and partnerships. DOH-Broward will partner with 20 emergency departments, Broward Sheriff’s Office, OMETS and EMS Providers to increase the use of ESSENCE and other data systems, to enhance surveillance and provide investigations by trained epidemiology staff. DOH-Broward will also work with FDOH on enhancing the PDMP, Emergency Departments to provide navigation and linkages to care, and implement evidence-based policies and procedures, lead an Overdose Fatality Review, and educate the medical community through Academic Detailing, youth and families on opioid use including targeted outreach and a targeted social marketing campaign. DOH-Broward will also Apply for Surveillance Component B and Linkage and Retention Component C.
Peer support specialists will be housed across multiple public safety, community organizations and health care settings. DOH-Broward will also work with FRCO, the Broward County Respite Program and will continue to conduct and host the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) committee. We will implement overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution as part of the harm reduction strategies and reach populations at high risk of overdose, populations disproportionately affected by overdose, and those historically underserved by prevention program. We will implement the Overdose Spike Response Plan and provide surveillance Data to the community monthly to assist in identifying Hot Spots. We will continue Academic Detailing (AD) to equip providers and health systems to make evidence based prescribing decisions, have timely and complete information regarding non-opioid medications and non-pharmacologic treatments, and identify patients at risk for overdose or opioid use disorder and can then either offer or connect patients with appropriate care. DOH-Broward will enhance the timelines of morbidity and mortality data by conducting drug overdose surveillance, using Florida’s syndromic surveillance system (SYS), ESSENCE and Biospatial.
DOH-Broward will work with the Medical Examiner, police departments and hospital so conduct drug testing and will work with all partners on assuring linkage and retention in care.
Short term outcomes include: Increased access to multiple data sources; increased measurable collaboration and communication; increased capacity to use surveillance and other data to better define opioid morbidity and mortality and improve overdose interventions; increased ability to identify hotspots or high burdened risk areas; increased coordination of linkages to care; increased understanding of context, resources and needs in Broward County; increased use of enhanced drug testing; increased accuracy in ESSENCE reporting; Increased use of PDMP by providers and pharmacists; Increased awareness of OUD by students, physicians and clinicians; Increased capacity of DOH-Broward to provide integrated services and share data; increased timeliness of death records; increased comprehensive screening of non-fatal overdoses in emergency departments; overdose fatality reviews; and increased awareness of opioid use disorder in youth and loved ones meetings. Long term we will work with our community partners to decrease fatal and non-fatal overdoses, decrease illicit opioid and stimulant use. We will improve health equity among groups disproportionately affected by overdose and those underserved by prevention programs. We will increase harm reduction strategies, expand identification, tracking and mitigation of emerging drug threats and link and retain clients in care.
