Virginia Health Information’s EDCC Program Introduces Bridge to Medication-Assisted Treatment

An Innovative Response to the Rising Need for Substance Use Support in Virginia?

In the face of escalating drug overdose fatalities, rising by a staggering 51% in Virginia between 2018 and 2022, the?statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) is leveraging its reach to address the urgent needs of those battling substance use disorders (SUD).?

Virginia Health Information (VHI) is a nonprofit organization that administers the HIE, inclusive of the Emergency Department Care Coordination (EDCC) program. Since its inception in 2017, the EDCC program serves as an event notification system that facilitates real-time data sharing among hospital emergency departments, health plans, and other healthcare providers statewide. This data sharing program allows care managers to communicate necessary information across organizations to improve the timeliness and quality of care in Virginia. Care team members are able to customize which type of notifications they receive to help them better manage care for specific populations.

Building on the EDCC’s capabilities, VHI now introduces?a bridge to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) functionality to serve providers assisting patients with SUD. ?Operating within the parameters of 42 CFR Part 2, the EDCC’s new Bridge to MAT functionality connects patients in emergency departments with MAT providers, facilitating a warm handoff that empowers MAT clinics to proactively engage with patients before their discharge, mitigating the risk of relapse or fatal outcomes.?

VHI's Bridge to MAT functionality has commenced its pilot partnership, marking a crucial milestone for the EDCC program. VHI looks forward to engaging more partners to further the success of this important initiative.?

For those interested in learning more about Bridge to MAT or seeking to onboard to the EDCC program, please reach out to [email protected].??