Substance use resources for emergency department teams

Resources for ED teams

• Acute care protocols

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  Developed by BCCSU, these protocols are intended to support hospitals with the implementation of new practice requirements. 

  Learn more on BCCSU 

• Point of Care files

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  Developed by the VCH Regional Addiction Program in partnership with RESP, these point of care files are readily available on SHOP and intended to support frontline service providers by informing and guiding practice. Link includes:

  General information

  • Substance use: what you should know
  • Co-occurring substance use principles of care

  Opiate use disorder

  • Acute care and opioid use disorder
  • Managing acute opioid withdrawal
  • Opioid agonist treatment maintenance
  • Opioid agonist treatment initiation

  Stimulant use disorder

  • Managing acute stimulant intoxication and withdrawal

  Benzo Contamination

  • Withdrawal from benzodiazepine contamination of the unregulated drug supply 

  Visit SHOP 

• PowerPoint slide deck

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  This slide deck can be adapted to meet team training needs and is intended to orient staff to practice requirements relate to the Ministry’s Hospital Policy. Download PowerPoint slide deck.

• Huddle case study guides

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  • Slow-Release Oral Morphine (Kadian) Medication Administration
  • Slow-Release Oral Morphine (Kadian) Pre and Post Administration Assessment
  • Benzodiazepine Administration for Withdrawal from Benzo dope
  • Buprenorphine Naloxone Assessment first administration dose
  • Sublocade administration
  • Methadone Medication Administration
  • Methadone Patient Education
  • Alcohol Withdrawal Management Case A
  • Alcohol Withdrawal Management Case B
  • Opioid Withdrawal Management
  • Stimulant Withdrawal Management
  • Discharge planning

• Conversation guide

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  This resource provides practical content to support engaging in substance use conversations with patients. 

  Download Conversation Guide: Supporting People who use Substances (PDF)

• Frequently asked questions (FAQs) sheet

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  This resource provides answers to commonly asked questions related to caring for people who use substances in the hospital setting. 

  Download the FAQs

• Transitions guide

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  This guide supports discharge planning from acute to community for people who use substances. 

  It is intended to support acute care and ED clinicians as they navigate the complex continuum of substance use care.

  The Guide includes a number of stand-alone one-page resources, such as a Substance Use System overview, a tip sheet with information on discharge and safety  planning, a decision-making tree to support bedside assessments, and infographics describing aspects of the system, such as withdrawal management, transitional/stabilization, and treatment and recovery.

  The Guide also includes a 1-page handout for patients, describing the central access points for various substance use services. This guide is available for download on the oneVCH intranet. 

  Download the guide on oneVCH

• Learning Hub module

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  Managing Opioid Use Disorder in the ED: An orientation to new VCH ED substance use order sets

  This 1 hour long self-directed module overviews management of opioid use disorder in the emergency department with emphasis on VCH order sets for opioid withdrawal, and opioid agonist therapy initiation and continuation. This module is intended for ED physicians but holds useful information for all ED-affiliated service providers.

  Register on LearningHub

• Webinar

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  This 30 minute webinar geared at ED Nurses reviews information related to new policy change for hospital settings with a focus on best practices for substance use care in hospital setting.

  Watch the webinar on YouTube