Executive Summary: A Quality Initiative to Improve Transitional Care for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder in Rural North Carolina

Abstract

The opioid epidemic is a significant health issue in the United States, affecting about 3 million people. Over the past 15 years, opioid-related deaths have continued to rise due to the widespread availability of heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Effective medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are available to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). However, despite the high death toll and associated health problems like HIV, hepatitis C, and infective endocarditis, only around 20% of individuals with OUD receive treatment. This is mainly due to social stigma, costs, transportation barriers, and health disparities. Communities in North Carolina are also impacted, with opioid-related deaths increasing by 72% from 2019 to 2022 across all races in the state. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project aimed to develop a sustainable transitional care process that facilitates referrals to community resources for these patients at the time of discharge from the emergency department. The project successfully aligned care delivery with the goals of Healthy People 2030 for patients with OUD.