Scripps Health Hospitals received $480,000 in grant funding to administer medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
The California Bridge Behavior Program granted the funds to bolster emergency departments as primary access points where patients can receive access to specialized care for these two health conditions, according to a statement from Scripps. This year’s grant award is the fourth consecutive year Scripps Health has received funding through the program.
According to Scripps Health’s spokesperson Stephen Carpowich, Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, and Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista received funding this year.
“We’re excited to receive this important funding, which will help us further elevate and advance our MAT program across Scripps Health to benefit our patients in need,” said Cara Bergamo, MD, emergency medicine physician at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego and MAT program leader at Scripps Health. “Over the past four years, we have built a substantial MAT program, and this new funding will allow us to continue to optimize treatment and support to our patients with opioid use disorder.
The funds will be used to hire or maintain department-based substance use counselors, educate healthcare providers about MAT and build a stigma-free environment to welcome disclosure of substance abuse. The funds will also hire or maintain emergency-department-based councilors, educate health care providers about MAT, build a stigma-free environment that welcomes disclosure of substance use, and provide rapid, evidence-based treatment. MAT uses medications, such as buprenorphine, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies for the treatment of opioid use disorder. The treatment program has helped drive nearly a five-fold increase in patients in 2021 who were prescribed medications aimed at combating opioid use disorder.
Scripps said that the program will provide access to materials, training, and technical assistance for navigators, clinicians, nurses, and other hospital staff and stakeholders.
