Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Implementation in the Emergency Department

Authors

Arvind Venkat MD, Allegheny General Hospital
Gary Shank PhD, Duquesne UniversityFollow
Sherry Rickard-Aasen, University of Pittsburgh
Janice Pringle PhD, University of Pittsburgh
William Johnjulio MD, Allegheny General Hospital

Abstract

We sought to qualitatively evaluate impediments in implementing a novel Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol into normal emergency department (ED) workflow for patients with at-risk drug/alcohol behavior. From 2010, administrative and nursing champions trained nurses at a single ED (census: 50,000 visits/yr) in SBIRT and incorporated SBIRT into normal ED nursing workflow in 2012. To qualitatively analyze impediments in SBIRT implementation, we created a semi-structured questionnaire for protocol champions with subsequent follow-up. Investigators analyzed responses using qualitative methodology based on a modified grounded theory framework. In 2012, 47693 visits by 31525 patients met SBIRT protocol initiation criteria with a protocol execution rate of 83.4%. Interview data identified the following impediments: (1) Need for multi-layer leadership support; (2) Application of an overarching vision to constantly address personnel attitudes towards SBIRT appropriateness in the ED; (3) Continuous performance monitoring to address implementation barriers close to real time; (4) Strategic and adaptive SBIRT training; and (5) External systemic changes through internal leadership. Qualitative analysis suggests that impediments to SBIRT implementation in the ED include views of SBIRT appropriateness in the ED, need for continuous reinforcement/refinement of personnel training / protocol execution, and fostering of additional administrative/financial champions.

Keywords

Emergency Department, Emergency Nurse, Qualitative Methodology, Screening-Brief Intervention-Referral to Treatment, Substance Use Disorders

Author Bio(s)

Arvind Venkat, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: Arvind Venkat, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, 320 East North Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, p: 412-359-6180, f: 412-359-8874, Arvind.Venkat@ahn.org

Gary Shank, PhD, is with the School of Education, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.

Sherry Rickard-Aasen, is with the Program Evaluation and Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA.

Janice L. Pringle, PhD, is with the Program Evaluation and Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA.

William Johnjulio, MD, is with the Department of Family Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA.

Publication Date

3-13-2017

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2262

Recommended APA Citation

Venkat, A., Shank, G., Rickard-Aasen, S., Pringle, J., & Johnjulio, W. (2017). Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Implementation in the Emergency Department. The Qualitative Report, 22(3), 745-756. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2262