Bridge clinic buprenorphine program decreases emergency department visits

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Opioid use disorder (OUD) presents a growing public health crisis, particularly impacting emergency departments (EDs).
• Emergency departments face increasing demands for effective opioid use disorder treatment interventions.
• The establishment of low-threshold buprenorphine programs, like the Bridge Clinic, addresses this critical need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a hospital-based Bridge Clinic on emergency department utilization.
• To assess patient adherence to buprenorphine therapy following referral from the ED.
• To determine the program's effectiveness in connecting patients with community-based OUD resources.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of patients referred to the Bridge Clinic from January 2017 to December 2018.
• Analysis of emergency department visits in the six months preceding and following Bridge Clinic consultation.
• Evaluation of buprenorphine treatment adherence at the 2-year follow-up mark.

Main Results:

• A total of 269 patients were analyzed (62% male, mean age 37.8 years).
• Emergency department visits decreased from 654 (pre-referral) to 381 (post-referral).
• Buprenorphine treatment adherence at 2-year follow-up was 56%.

Conclusions:

• Prompt referral to buprenorphine treatment programs can significantly reduce emergency department utilization for patients with OUD.
• The Bridge Clinic model effectively links patients to essential community resources for sustained OUD management.
• This approach demonstrates a viable strategy for improving care and reducing healthcare system burden associated with opioid use disorder.