Akron, Ohio – October 20, 2023 – On Monday, October 16, Summit County announced $500,000 in opiate litigation settlement grants for Summa Health’s First Step, a dedicated addiction treatment program that provides specialized services in emergency departments, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In a single visit, patients receive treatment for symptoms and assistance with easing cravings, as well as onsite care coordination to ensure they don’t leave the hospital without the next treatment option in place.

 

This program provides care and assistance for individuals looking for opioid, heroin, alcohol and other substance addictions and is offered at Summa Health Emergency Departments in Akron, Barberton, Green and Wadsworth.

 

“Patients affected by substance use disorder frequently seek treatment within emergency departments, and in many cases encounter care settings unprepared to manage the complexities of their disease during a critical juncture,” said Jaimie McKinnon, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Vice President, Summa Health Behavioral Health Institute. “First Step addresses a broad scope of biopsychosocial needs at the initial point of contact with the healthcare system, facilitating entry into long-term treatment and enhancing recovery outcomes.” 

 

Since launching in 2018, First Step has conducted 5,989 patient evaluations, many which have resulted in referrals to long-term treatment. Additionally, the program has completed 1,880 buprenorphine inductions, a form of medication-assisted treatment for addiction. For patients undergoing induction, "show" rates for initial follow-up appointments are above industry average at 73 percent on the Akron Campus and 79 percent on the Barberton Campus. As of 2021, First Step has dispensed 1,629 naloxone kits as part of its harm reduction strategy. 

 

Nationally and in Summit County, healthcare providers in emergency departments are at the forefront of the opioid epidemic. According to Summit County Public Health data, as of October 16, 2023, Summit County emergency departments have treated over 350 overdoses this year. 

 

Typically, when a patient arrives at the Emergency Department for addiction treatment, providers aim to simply ease withdrawal symptoms. Summa Health was an early adopter of providing medication-assisted treatment for addiction on-the-spot in the Emergency Department. This provides patients with an opportunity to initiate life-saving treatment they may not have sought out otherwise.  

 

Through First Step, Summa Health Emergency Departments are staffed with fulltime registered nurse Addiction Care Coordinators (ACCs), who are available from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., when the majority of overdose cases occur. 

 

These specialized staff refer patients to addiction treatment providers and services while simultaneously offering linkages to external resources including childcare, food stability, housing, and transportation. 

 

Through a longstanding partnership with Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland, First Step offers on-call, certified peer recovery coaches (PRCs). PRCs work with patients after they leave the Emergency Department to enhance recovery potential and offer support and guidance with navigating community resources. 

 

The Summa Health First Step program is available 24/7, 365 days a year at the following locations:

 

Summa Health is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in Ohio. Encompassing a network of hospitals, community medical centers, a health plan, an accountable care organization, a multi-specialty physician organization, research and the Summa Health Foundation, we are nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa’s clinical services are consistently recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Magnet status), U.S. News and World Report, Healthgrades, Thomson Reuters and The Leapfrog Group. For more information, visit summahealth.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/summahealth, X at x.com/SummaHealth, Pinterest, pinterest.com/SummaHealth, YouTube at youtube.com/summahealthsystem, Instagram at instagram.com/summahealth and LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/summahealth.