Acute Treatment and Stabilization for 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
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Ensures transitioning to/from community care to facilitate recovery
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Evaluates and manages Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Rhode Island Department of Health