HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department now offers 24/7 walk-in care for opioid treatment
August 24, 2021
//
Hospital News
Sheboygan – HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department in Sheboygan is pleased to announce it has expanded its emergency services to include an opioid recovery program. The project is funded by a $134,499 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Care and Treatment Services.
“In Sheboygan County, deaths from opioid overdose have doubled since 2015, and we are now considered a high-risk county averaging 9.6 deaths per 100,000 residents,” said Jeff Stumbras, LCSW, LMFT, SAC-IT, Executive Director of Behavioral Health at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital and Prevea Health. “In order to increase access to effective treatment for those affected by opioid addiction, we are now offering walk-in treatment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department.”
In order to enhance local emergency services and better meet the needs of Sheboygan and its surrounding communities, HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department has developed additional processes and protocols so patients can be assessed anytime, day or night. This is for those who may be overdosing, withdrawing or just ready to start recovery from heroin or pain pills. Those seeking help may be started on a lifesaving medication to aid them on their path to recovery and are connected with recovery coaches from Wisconsin Recovery Community Organization. The medical team at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department then coordinates treatment for the patient with the appropriate treatment center.
Previously, patients who came to the HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department for opioid withdrawal or overdose were provided life-saving measures, connected with a recovery coach onsite and then discharged back into the community.
“Without medication and treatment, these patients have an 85 percent rate of relapsing within one year,” said Stumbras. “This new option inside our emergency department creates a continuity of care that can save the lives of those struggling with opioid addiction.”
National experts in addiction medicine, as well as local experts in emergency care, addiction medicine, psychiatry, mental health, primary care, and those working in the recovery community, collaborated to develop this improved offering at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital.
“The opioid crisis has impacted many communities across the United States, including Sheboygan,” said Ryan Sorenson, Mayor of the City of Sheboygan. “It is great to have HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital be a key player in providing care to those impacted by this. This will make a positive impact on our community as we ensure that we become a safer and healthier community for all. I would like to thank the staff at St. Nicholas Hospital for the work that they do, and for their commitment to improving our public health.”
HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital is one of three hospitals in Wisconsin to receive funding from SAMHSA to implement this new program in its emergency department. A toolkit with multi-disciplinary training, process tools and best practices will soon be available to other Wisconsin hospitals so they too can expand access to opioid treatment.
HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital has been delivering high quality health care to Sheboygan and its surrounding communities since 1890. HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital provides a comprehensive range of services that include cancer care, women’s services, 24-hour emergency care, digestive health, orthopedics, cardiac, home health and hospice care. The hospital’s primary purpose is to continue Christ’s healing love through the delivery of high quality and compassionate health care in an environment sensitive to the needs of all people. HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. An affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System, we draw on the history of St. Francis of Assisi as we move to continue serving the health care needs of our area in Christ’s healing ministry, caring for all people. To learn more, visit www.stnicholashospital.org.
About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.
“In Sheboygan County, deaths from opioid overdose have doubled since 2015, and we are now considered a high-risk county averaging 9.6 deaths per 100,000 residents,” said Jeff Stumbras, LCSW, LMFT, SAC-IT, Executive Director of Behavioral Health at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital and Prevea Health. “In order to increase access to effective treatment for those affected by opioid addiction, we are now offering walk-in treatment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department.”
In order to enhance local emergency services and better meet the needs of Sheboygan and its surrounding communities, HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department has developed additional processes and protocols so patients can be assessed anytime, day or night. This is for those who may be overdosing, withdrawing or just ready to start recovery from heroin or pain pills. Those seeking help may be started on a lifesaving medication to aid them on their path to recovery and are connected with recovery coaches from Wisconsin Recovery Community Organization. The medical team at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department then coordinates treatment for the patient with the appropriate treatment center.
Previously, patients who came to the HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital Emergency Department for opioid withdrawal or overdose were provided life-saving measures, connected with a recovery coach onsite and then discharged back into the community.
“Without medication and treatment, these patients have an 85 percent rate of relapsing within one year,” said Stumbras. “This new option inside our emergency department creates a continuity of care that can save the lives of those struggling with opioid addiction.”
National experts in addiction medicine, as well as local experts in emergency care, addiction medicine, psychiatry, mental health, primary care, and those working in the recovery community, collaborated to develop this improved offering at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital.
“The opioid crisis has impacted many communities across the United States, including Sheboygan,” said Ryan Sorenson, Mayor of the City of Sheboygan. “It is great to have HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital be a key player in providing care to those impacted by this. This will make a positive impact on our community as we ensure that we become a safer and healthier community for all. I would like to thank the staff at St. Nicholas Hospital for the work that they do, and for their commitment to improving our public health.”
HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital is one of three hospitals in Wisconsin to receive funding from SAMHSA to implement this new program in its emergency department. A toolkit with multi-disciplinary training, process tools and best practices will soon be available to other Wisconsin hospitals so they too can expand access to opioid treatment.
###
About HSHS St. Nicholas HospitalHSHS St. Nicholas Hospital has been delivering high quality health care to Sheboygan and its surrounding communities since 1890. HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital provides a comprehensive range of services that include cancer care, women’s services, 24-hour emergency care, digestive health, orthopedics, cardiac, home health and hospice care. The hospital’s primary purpose is to continue Christ’s healing love through the delivery of high quality and compassionate health care in an environment sensitive to the needs of all people. HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. An affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System, we draw on the history of St. Francis of Assisi as we move to continue serving the health care needs of our area in Christ’s healing ministry, caring for all people. To learn more, visit www.stnicholashospital.org.
About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.
Media Contact
Angela Deja
Director of Communications and Public Relations