New AJPH Publication Depicts CA Bridge Success Scaling ED-Initiated OUD Treatment Across CA
A study published June 27, 2024 in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) depicts the rapid scale-up of the CA Bridge model — rapid access to low-barrier buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), patient navigation to outpatient care, and harm reduction services — across California emergency departments (EDs). The study, led by Bridge Evaluation Consultant Liz Samuels, MD, MPH, MHS, highlights significant patient engagement and demonstrates buy-in by hospitals and funders working to sustain patient navigation and ED-initiated opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment services.
Key Insights
- Successful implementation: In just five years (2019-2023), 268 (81%) of California’s acute care hospitals initiated CA Bridge programs. CA Bridge administered three rounds of funding to support implementation, with 86.7% of CA hospitals participating in the first two rounds of CA Bridge funding re-applying for subsequent rounds.
- Significant patient engagement: Based on reporting from all 268 participating hospitals, patient navigators were consulted in 279,025 ED encounters, OUD was identified in 22,245 encounters, and buprenorphine treatment was provided in 89,549 encounters.
- Effective ED interventions: The ED plays a crucial role in the continuum of care for people with OUD, creating access to low-barrier buprenorphine, linkage to outpatient treatment, and take-home naloxone.
- Promising model: The rapid uptake of the CA Bridge model and efforts by 80.5% of participating hospitals to sustain their navigators and ensure the continuity of OUD treatment services indicates broad buy-in. Regardless, many hospitals will need additional funding and other incentives to maintain and expand the CA Bridge program and safeguard this critical ED-based intervention.
The study underscores CA Bridge’s success in transforming OUD treatment and patient care across California EDs. It suggests that, with adequate investment and quality performance initiatives in place, broad national expansion of the model is feasible and has the potential to increase engagement with evidence-based treatment and harm reduction to reduce overdose deaths.
Access the study here.
"CA Bridge has transformed emergency addiction care in California and serves as a national model for improving patient engagement and delivery of harm reduction services and addiction treatment."
