RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05711056

Rural Expanded Access to OUD Care & Linkage Using Toxicologists for Telehealth Initiated Treatment

Expanding Rural Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Utilizing Medical Toxicologists and the Georgia Poison Center to Facilitate Emergency Department- and Telehealth-Based Medication Initiation and Linkage to Care

Sponsor

Emory University

Enrollment

480 participants

Start Date

Aug 30, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Opioid Use Opioid Abuse

Summary

The overarching goal of this project is to increase the availability of OUD treatment in rural counties in the state of Georgia by using Emergency Department (ED)-based telehealth strategies to initiate MOUD and connect patients to treatment. The investigators will implement a novel collaboration between rural EDs, medical toxicologists at the Georgia Poison Center (GPC), peer recovery coaches (PRCs) and RCOs throughout Georgia to bridge the gap between OUD treatment need in rural EDs and specialty physician availability at the GPC. Research activities will be conducted during two broad phases, at three rural EDs in Georgia: planning and implementation. During the planning phase, aggregate data will be obtained to determine each ED's existing practices treating patients with OUD and opioid withdrawal. During the implementation phase, the researchers will prospectively study a poison center OUD consultation and PRC intervention as it is rolled out at each site, collecting participant-level data. Sites will be rolled into the implementation phase in a stepped-wedge fashion, so there will be times when some sites are in the planning phase while others are in the implementation phase.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study tests a telehealth-based treatment model for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who come to the emergency department (ED) for help. A medical toxicologist connects with patients virtually to initiate medication-assisted treatment (MAT) such as buprenorphine, then links them to ongoing outpatient care. This "RURAL" model aims to expand access to OUD treatment in underserved rural communities where in-person addiction specialists are scarce. You may be eligible if: - You are 18 years or older - You speak English - You are clinically sober at the time of enrollment - You are medically and psychiatrically stable You may NOT be eligible if: - You are already receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or psychotherapy for OUD before arriving at the ED - You have previously participated in this study - You are unable to provide informed consent - Your clinical condition worsens to the point that participation is unsafe - You are a prisoner - You are under 18 years old - You have significant cognitive impairment or impaired decision-making capacity - You do not clearly understand English Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALSociobehavioral Intervention

Utilizes two primary evidence-based strategies: * Delivering OUD consultation via telemedicine, which has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective means for initiating MOUD with buprenorphine; and, * Incorporating psychosocial support in the form of PRC, whose involvement in patient care is associated with increased treatment retention and MOUD initiation.