Bellingham, Wash. – Like many communities across the nation, Whatcom County has seen a dramatic increase in fentanyl use and overdoses over the last two years. Availability and affordability of this powerful and highly addictive drug have drastically changed the landscape of care and impacted how individuals engage with the healthcare system.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is responding to the opioid crisis by bridging the gap between emergency department medication treatment for opioid use disorders and the outpatient care these patients need to stay on medication long-term. It is one of the first hospitals in the state to enroll in this innovative program to make sure people in the ED after a non-fatal overdose receive compassionate, appropriate care and essential follow-up medication and support.
“It’s painfully clear to every caregiver and clinician involved in caring for these patients that this work is urgently needed, and it will take close and ongoing collaboration,” said Lorna Gober, MD, Chief Medical Officer for PeaceHealth’s Northwest network. “One death is too many.”
In October, more than 50 local healthcare professionals--most of them caregivers and providers from the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Emergency Department--gathered for a half-day training focused on initiating buprenorphine and other medications for opioid use disorder in the ED. This is a life-saving treatment for those that have suffered from overdose that diminishes the physical dependency, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms caused by Fentanyl. It lowers the chances someone will misuse opiates after they get out of the hospital and helps stabilize someone as part of a treatment plan.
The training session was led by a physician experienced in emergency and addiction medicine, and spotlighted ScalaNW, a new program that provides hospitals with free 24/7 access to a scheduling phone line to make follow-up appointments for patients before they leave the ED.
Other attendees at the training represented Whatcom County Health and Community Services, Whatcom Street Medicine and Lifeline Connections.
"We immediately took steps to share the information and implement these treatment protocols, and are continuing to work closely with ScalaNW,” said James Scribner, MD, Medical Director at the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Emergency Department. "We’ve seen an increase in the number of Suboxone prescriptions administered in the ED, along with Narcan distribution, and referrals to outpatient treatment.”
Narcan, or naloxone, reverses an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opiates on the brain and restoring breathing. Suboxone is a combination of naloxone and buprenorphine, which works chemically to decrease the severity of withdrawal symptoms and reduce a patient's dependence on opioids long-term.
Other key points of the SUD treatment initiative include:
- As a member of Whatcom County’s Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) group, PeaceHealth is working hand in hand with Whatcom County Health and Community Services and outpatient SUD providers across the community who are committed to this work. The MAC group was formed in 2023 in response to the overdose crisis.
- PeaceHealth and Lifeline Connections, a premier provider of substance use and mental health services in the Pacific Northwest, are teaming up to embed substance use disorder professional and peer pathfinder support specialists at PeaceHealth St. Joseph and PeaceHealth United General Medical Center in Sedro-Woolley. Services include assessing individual patient needs; creating a patient- and outcome-driven treatment plan; determining criteria for discharge or transfer; connecting patients with community resources; and facilitating follow-up appointments.
- PeaceHealth and our partners are consistently monitoring community trends via the WhatcomOverdosePrevention.org dashboard and reports from caregivers and physicians. Emerging stories and data tell us where we need to focus our efforts in response to what is trending locally.
- PeaceHealth’s longstanding partnership with Cascade Medical Advantage continues through the work of Natalie Andrews, perinatal public health nurse, who focuses on SUD care in the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Childbirth Center.
“Our community is fortunate to have PeaceHealth stepping up to address the opioid crisis with real solutions,” said Shannon Boustead, MD, Opioid Response Medical Advisor with Whatcom County Health and Community Services. “By focusing on education, collaboration, and improving access to proven treatments, PeaceHealth is not only saving lives but also creating a pathway to recovery for individuals and families impacted by this devastating epidemic.”
While the focus was on medications, the October training included discussions on the importance of addressing stigma and trauma, and the potential benefits of incorporating lived experience into staff training.
“PeaceHealth is committed to creating a compassionate, stigma-free hospital experience for patients struggling with substance use disorder,” Dr. Gober said “Access to the appropriate medications, a compassionate presence and personalized supports are key to starting on the path to recovery.”
About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a non-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, more than 3,000 providers, more than 160 clinics and 9 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
About Whatcom County Health and Community Services: WCHCS serves all of Whatcom County by advancing equity and partnering with the community to promote health, prevent disease, provide accurate and reliable health information, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and preserve a healthy environment. The Department’s four strategic priories help the agency fulfill it purpose. They are community partnerships, organizational infrastructure, workforce development, and quality management. Find out more at whatcomcounty.us/health.
Whatcom County Contact:
Marie Duckworth
Whatcom County Health and Community Services
MDuckwor@co.whatcom, 360-778-6187h.org. 541-554-9403
