Acute Treatment And Stabilization of Overdose And Opioid Use Disorder

The Levels of Care for Rhode Island Emergency Departments and Hospitals for Treating Overdose and Opioid Use Disorder establish a common foundation for treating opioid use disorder and overdose in Rhode Island hospitals and Emergency Departments based on a three-level system of categorization. All Emergency Departments and hospitals in Rhode Island are required to meet the criteria for Level 3 facilities. A facility can apply for a higher designation as the capacity to treat opioid use disorder and overdose develops. Hospitals and emergency departments are certified based on initial self-assessments and follow-up evaluations by the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals.

What hospitals must do to become certified

Level of Care 3

  • Follow discharge planning per law
  • Administer standardized substance use disorder screening for all patients
  • Educate all patients who are prescribed opioids on safe storage and disposal
  • Dispense naloxone to patients at risk, according to clear protocol
  • Offer peer recovery support services
  • Provide active referral to appropriate community provider(s)
  • Comply with 48-hour reporting of overdose to the Rhode Island Department of Health
  • Perform laboratory drug screening that includes fentanyl on patients who overdose

Level of Care 2 meets all criteria of Level 3 and

  • Conduct comprehensive, standardized substance use assessment
  • Maintain capacity for evaluation and treatment of opioid use disorder using support from addiction specialty services.

Level of Care 1 meets Criteria of Level 3 and Level 2 and

  • Maintain a Center of Excellence or comparable arrangement for initiating, stabilizing, and re-stabilizing patients on medication assisted treatment
    • Ensures transitioning to/from community care to facilitate recovery
    • Evaluates and manages Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)