By Mary O’KEEFE

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH) received a grant from the California Dept. of Health Care Services and CA Bridge to support a behavioral health pilot project in its Emergency Department (ED).

This means that when someone comes into the USC-VHH ED with a drug emergency there is a cohesive plan to not only take care of the patient but to follow-up with support that will hopefully protect the patient from returning to the hospital due to another drug issue.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the number of drug overdoses is continuing to rise. Over 70% of 70,000 deaths in 2019 involved opioids,” said Dr. Tarina Kang, chief medical officer with USC-VHH.

According to the CDC, in 2020 there were 91,799 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. Opioids were involved in 68,630 of those overdose deaths equaling 74.8% of all drug overdose deaths.

In 2018, the organization CA Bridge started to expand access to medication for addiction through Emergency Departments using them as critical access points, Kang said. The organization provided statewide grants for hospitals to help with intervention in EDs.

According to CA Bridge, the organization provides training, technical assistance and coaching so that hospitals may take on a critical role in solving the overdose crisis.

Kisti Keratisomphon has been with USC-VHH since January in the position of substance use navigator, behavioral counselor through this program.

Care Coordinator Keratisomphon is trained at USC-VHH to respond to patients who come into the ED with drug issues. She will work with the patient, and at times family members, to improve treatment including conducting initial interviews with patients and help create a pathway for their future.

“She has led efforts [at USC-VHH] and is shifting the mind [perception] and culture in treatment,” Kang said.

Many times patients who are suffering from an overdose come into the ED and are seen by doctors responding to the immediate health issue. They are then either released when they are healthy enough to leave or are placed on a psychiatric hold if there is evidence they are a danger to themselves. With the new program, and coordinator, there will be more of a follow-up that includes treatment including medications for addiction like buprenorphine that is used in opioid addiction.

“This journey supports USC-VHH expanding its behavioral health,” Kang said. “People who come to the ED with substance use disorder need the same empathy and understanding as [people with other medical issues].”

Keratisomphon’s job is to act as a liaison among addiction clinics, other medical personnel and the patient.

“Coming to the ED is step one. Step two is creating a longevity toward sobriety,” she said.