Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2019 - 12

UMMC
SPOTLIGHT:

Janine L.
Good, MD

Marian
Currens, CRNP

Anne D.
Williams, DNP

a safe place for clients to

DNP, director of community

relax with snacks and games.

health improvement.
"One of the main things

Another UMMC clinic
focuses on female patients

people can do to get drugs

and pregnant women with

off the street is to remove

opioid use disorders. "The

old medications from their

clinic has a play center where

homes and dispose of them

women can leave their chil-

appropriately," Williams says.

dren while they're in coun-

To facilitate this, the team

seling. It removes a barrier to

provides information about

treatment," Dr. Welsh says.

drug takeback locations

FOSTERING
AWARENESS

across Maryland. UMMC
pharmacies have their own
drug takeback bins.
"This problem has so

Public awareness is essential
for fighting the opioid epi-

many facets, and the com-

demic. UMMC's Community

munity should take this

Health Improvement Team

seriously," Williams says.

fulfills this need by circulating

"They should try to get

information about opioids at

themselves or their loved

community events through-

ones help. Dispose of your

out West Baltimore.

medications properly, and

"We have a handout that

if you're actively using pain

helps the general commu-

medications, make sure they

nity understand the types of

are locked up."

drugs that are out there, how

"This is a deadly epidemic.

they can identify if their loved

It cuts across all segments of

one has an addiction problem

society. We all need to pull

and where they can go for

together to combat this dis-

help," says Anne D. Williams,

ease," Dr. Weintraub says.

CONTACT US
If you or a loved one has an opioid addiction, please call:
UM Center for Addiction Medicine: 410-225-8240,
UMMC's Outpatient Addiction Treatment Services: 410-328-6600,
or UMMC's Women's Mental Health Program: 410-328-6091.

MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS

HOW UM UCH IS
RESPONDING TO
THE OPIOID CRISIS
University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health (UM
UCH) plays an active role in the fight against the opioid
crisis. Within our two emergency departments (EDs), we
have integrated SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and
Referral to Treatment), a standardized screening tool
that assesses a patient for risky substance use behaviors.
We also work closely with the Harford County Health
Department to develop peer recovery specialists and
coaches. These individuals are assigned to UM UCH EDs
to intercede when a patient has an addiction issue.
At UM Harford Memorial Hospital in particular, the inpatient behavioral health unit continues to treat people with
substance use disorders, given the relationship between
mental illness and substance abuse. Our behavioral health
staff across both hospitals (inpatient, outpatient, ED) are
well-versed on these co-occurring conditions.
In Bel Air, off-campus from the hospital, the Harford
Crisis Center offers a 24/7 alternative to ED treatment
for people experiencing a mental health or substance
use crisis. One of its components-a 24/7 crisis line at
800-NEXT-STEP (800-639-8783)-connects people with
services most appropriate to their needs. A 24/7 Mobile
Crisis Team can be dispatched to someone's home to
engage and connect the person to appropriate community services rather than an ED or hospital bed. An
outpatient behavioral health clinic-offering routine outpatient therapy and medication management-rounds
out the current offerings at the Crisis Center.
The final phase, which is nearing completion, is a 24/7
walk-in/urgent care service. This will provide assessment
and care for those who need a stabilization period of less
than a day before referral to another provider. For those
needing a longer stabilization period, overnight beds will
be available in an effort to ensure their long-term stability.

LEARN MORE
For more about how UM UCH is dealing with
the opioid crisis, visit umuch.org/healthy.

http://www.umuch.org/healthy

Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2019