LOUD in the ED aimed to improve the experience of OUD care for people and providers, and to reduce the morbidity and mortality for people with OUD in the ED by improving access to evidence-informed care. This includes access to buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone®).

The LOUD in the ED action series began in October 2020 and ended in March 2021.

Action Period 1

Action Period 2

Action Period 3

Action Period 4

Action Period 5

Twenty-one percent of people with OUD have their first point of contact with the health care system in the ED – there is never a second chance to make a first impression. The ED setting provides a unique opportunity to connect with people who use drugs and intervene early. Many ED teams experience the effects of OUD on a daily basis and this initiative supported teams to provide evidence-based, quality care.

Applying best practice for people with OUD in the ED improves patient care and has the potential to reduce length of stay, readmission rates, and workload and burnout for staff.

Teams benefited from focused support, the opportunity to collaborate with, and learn from, other teams from across the province, and quality improvement training that can be applied to all areas of care you provide.

The LOUD in the ED Action Series combined opportunities for learning and networking with opportunities to apply change ideas at local sites. This included:

• Five interactive webinars to teach and highlight tools for improving care in your ED;
• Action periods following each webinar during which teams worked together to explore application of the new tools and translate ideas into practice;
• Coaching calls to support team improvement efforts.

PWLLE are integral members and leaders in both the planning and action stages of the collaborative. Some of the faculty members were PWLLE, and additional PWLLE are being engaged in the development of resources and education. Participating teams were encouraged to have a PWLLE as part of their core team membership.