A multidisciplinary team from the Emergency Services Network and Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Transformation has been recognized with a Canadian College of Health Leaders Solventum Health Care Innovation Team Award for its innovative approach to identifying and treating Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED).

This new approach, a continuation of work initiated by the late Dr. Jeff Harries, who pioneered and championed improved treatment for AUD within Interior Health, aims to provide support and treatment as early as possible. It includes a clinician workflow to be applied to all patients who enter the ED.

Patients with AUD are nearly five times more likely to end up in the emergency department than other individuals.

Screening process

Once screened and based on their responses, patients are offered different interventions:

• immediate withdrawal management;
• outpatient prescription and referral to the Virtual Addiction Medicine clinic; or
• educational and community resources and supports.

Crucially, those who are given a prescription receive a follow-up, sometimes several, which has led to more patients filling those prescriptions and taking the medication as prescribed, thus improving their outcome.

Learn more

Watch the video or listen to the podcast to find out more about this award-winning work.

• Transforming Alcohol Use Disorder Care in the ED: An Award-Winning Approach
• Qualitycast North Podcast | Northern Health PQI

Written by Anna Belodedenko, Internal Communications consultant, Interior Health Authority