The pilot study will evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of prehospital OUD management and intervention strategies, and will bridge statewide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) survey data, EMS electronic health records, and stakeholder interviews.
This project aligns with the UNC School of Medicine’s mission to promote collaborative health services research in order to develop person-centered patient care models.
Julianne Cyr is a Research Instructor with the UNC Department of Emergency Medicine. In her role as PI on this project, her focus will be on advancing patient-centered OUD quality improvement initiatives, driving adoption of evidence-based guidelines, and reducing behavioral health Emergency Department boarding times. Additionally, she will work with UNC student researchers, offering first-hand research experience to the next generation of public health and medical professionals.
Impact of OUD
In 2023-2024, there were 29,937 ED visits and 7,376 deaths due to opioid overdose in North Carolina. Approximately 39% of people who died from opioid-related causes are treated by prehospital EMS in the year prior to their death, indicating missed opportunities for new interventions.
About the Study
This study hopes to use real-world prehospital data and stakeholder experiences to inform collaborative design and development of prehospital OUD strategies to reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality in North Carolina.
The research team will work with EMS Systems across the state to identify the OUD prevention, harm reduction, and treatment strategies currently in use. UNC will partner with one urban (Orange County EMS) and one rural (TBD) EMS system to identify opportunities for prehospital OUD strategy deployment using EHRs.
Finally, the research team will work with healthcare organizations and patient advocates from the local areas served by participant EMS partners to identify best practice recommendations for deploying OUD services in the prehospital environment.
Pilot results will be delivered back to the community partners and presented at national conferences.
Funding for this project is provided by the UNC School of Medicine Academic Investment Fund.
Learn more about Julianne Cyr’s areas of focus here, and prior publications via this link.