In 2020, with the pandemic straining healthcare systems and opioid overdoses at an all-time high, a voice rose from within the Duluth community. There was an established foundation of treatment for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) within primary care, but local health systems lacked pathways from their emergency departments to the complete support resources available within the community.
In response, the Duluth-area OUD Collaborative was formed to address the quadruple aim of improving population health and patient experience through greater community coordination, reducing costs through successful grant funding and a preventative recovery model, and continuing to support the collaborative members of the care team. The group includes physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, peer recovery specialists, social workers, nurses, and health system administrators from the Family Medicine Residency, both local hospitals, the treatment center, a peer recovery organization, and the College of Pharmacy. The group collaborates to better support those providing medication and wrap-around care to individuals experiencing OUD.
The group was created to connect individuals with OUD with quality treatment and resources so there is no wrong door to find support. Importantly, participating professionals are developing personal connections across the community and across organizations. Clinicians are learning from the voice of peer recovery specialists with lived experience, primary care providers with experience managing OUD with medications are supporting emergency department physicians new to prescribing, and health system members are now aware of the community resources available.
We expect this efficient coordination of care and collaboration between professionals and across organizations will improve efficiency, enhance the patient experience, reduce cost, and improve clinician experience. The collaborative was originally focused on expanding the foundation established within primary care to meet community needs. With the help of interprofessional and interorganizational connections, it continues to evolve addressing OUD according to the quadruple aim.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the OICPD is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The OICPD maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change
