Bronson Implements Initiative to Treat Opioid Use Disorder
Bronson Healthcare has implemented a new program at its four hospital emergency rooms to expedite the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) through medication. The program is made possible by a nearly $350,000 grant awarded to the Bronson Health Foundation from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) and the Michigan Opioid Partnership.
The Emergency Department Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Initiative helps Emergency Department staff identify patients with OUD, begin medication treatment during the emergency visit, and support continuity of care by establishing partnerships with community providers for close follow up. The program is in use at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Bronson LakeView Hospital in Paw Paw, and Bronson South Haven Hospital. Prior to this initiative, patients could only receive referrals for outpatient services.
“Having the medication to give to those who have OUD when they are right here in our emergency department is an important step in increasing access and removing barriers to care,” says Paul Bodenberg, Bronson’s system outcome coordinator and patient safety and quality officer.
Bodenberg spearheaded the initiative along with Dr. Maureen McGlinchey Ford, a Southwestern Michigan Emergency Services physician who provides emergency care at Bronson and is an assistant professor at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed).
“Opioid overdoses kill more people than car accidents. Connecting patients with OUD with effective, lifesaving, long term treatments takes a community approach, and this initiative is doing that,” says Ford. “We are coming together with key partners to provide follow up services through Summit Pointe in Calhoun County, Family Health Center, WMed Family Medicine and WMed Street Medicine in Kalamazoo County, and Intercare in Van Buren County.”
Discussions are currently in process with Bronson primary care offices and Victory Clinical Services, with the hopes of giving patients many other additional options to engage in continued treatment.
“We are so thankful that the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan and the Michigan Opioid Partnership recognized this need at Bronson and stepped up to provide funding so Bronson emergency teams can support our patients and families in this way,” says Terry Morrow, president of Bronson Health Foundation.
For more information or requests to join this initiative please contact Paul Bodenberg at bodenbpa@bronsonhg.org or Dr. Ford at maureen.ford@wmed.edu.
About the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development, and civic affairs. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed more than $1.4 billion through more than 85,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston counties. Visit www.cfsem.org to learn more.
About Bronson Health Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of the Bronson Healthcare system, Bronson Health Foundation builds relationships with individuals and organizations to connect their generous support with Bronson’s healing mission. This support funds and sustains programs, projects, services, innovative technology, scholarships and much more that directly benefits patients and families, employees, and communities. It is the focus of the Foundation to ensure philanthropic funds are distributed in an impactful and equitable way that alleviates barriers and disparities to a patient’s care and recovery across the Bronson system.
