The collaborative spirit between local healthcare providers is allowing much needed changes to occur in the field of opioid care. Providers are sharing information, have committed to follow all CDC guidelines for prescribing opioids, and together will develop a shared opioid risk assessment tool before prescribing opioids to patients. Alliance to HEAL is also looking at how to close the gap in detox and rehabilitation (both inpatient and outpatient) care. That could include building a new facility in our area to help those at risk of dying from substance abuse disorders.
Here's what the the work groups are up to:
Work Group |
Aim |
Successes |
1 - Improve Prescribing Practices |
By July 1, 2019, Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System will develop a system for tracking, analyzing, and sharing data around opioid prescriptions |
On track to decrease opioid prescriptions by 20% by January 1, 2020 |
2 - Diversion of Opioids |
Increase the number of opioid disposal options in La Crosse County |
Installed more prescription drug drop boxes, hosted a drug take back day, and started a deputy ride-along project with Meals on Wheels to collect unused prescriptions |
3 - Alternative Pain Treatment |
1. Develop a list of agencies in La Crosse County who provide alternative pain management methods 2. Provide local healthcare systems with suggested messaging to disseminate to their provider networks on the options for alternative pain management 3. Create PSAs to increase the public's awareness of alternative pain therapies |
The list of agencies is almost complete, and the La Crosse County Health Department created a "Don't Get Hooked" media campaign |
4 - Adolescent Education |
Increase percentage of school-age children in La Crosse County who can identify at least one caring and trusted adult in their life outside their family |
Currently conducting a research study at Hamilton Elementary School in La Crosse |
5 - Navigation and Assessment |
1. Healthcare systems will use the same assessment (ASAM) and accepting completed assessments across systems 2. Determine no wrong door vs one door service for entry system to assist those looking to access or navigate services 3. Survey local people on their experience navigating the "system" to help identify gaps |
Both aims are in progress and the survey is complete |
6 - Increase residential treatment/Detox center |
Collect data to support funding efforts of detox and residential services |
Visited LE Phillips in Chippewa Falls and Tellurian in Madison, and working on a business plan for a local care system |
7 - Medicated Assisted Treatment |
1. Increase the number of individuals enrolled in MAT service 2. Increase number of inmates in jail starting treatment, decrease the gap in MAT availability in jail, and increase the number of inmates referred to treatment/recovery options before release |
Both aims are in progress |
8 - Robust Recovery/Sober Living |
Identify what recovery support services are missing from the La Crosse area and fill the holes with existing local organizations |
In progress |
9 - Narcan and Needles |
1. Increase the amount of needles collected in outdoor sharps drop boxes in La Crosse County 2. Prescribe Narcan to all patients with a history of substance abuse disorder, history of overdose, higher opioid dosages, or current benzodiazepine use 3. Offer Narcan to all patients being discharged from the ER after an opioid overdose 4. All patients discharged from ER after opioid overdose will have follow-up with crisis team |
All aims are in progress |
