Buprenorphine Field Initiation of ReScue Treatment by Emergency Medical Services (Bupe FIRST EMS): A Case Series.

We present a case series to illustrate a new treatment paradigm utilizing front line EMS Paramedic units and high dose buprenorphine to treat withdrawal symptoms with next day bridge to long term care. The three patients described are exemplary cases, meant to represent overall characteristics of the intervention prior to complete data collection. Each patient was revived from opioid overdose with naloxone. Paramedics then treated each patient with 16 mg of buprenorphine to relieve and prevent withdrawal symptoms. Patients were provided with outpatient follow up irrespective of ED transport. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first EMS agency in the United States providing MOUD in the prehospital setting at the point of overdose. This innovative program provides EMS with education and tools to promote patient engagement. While still in its infancy, this approach utilizes existing EMS resources to bring MOUD to the prehospital setting, offering a new avenue to long term care. PMID: 32208945 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Prehospital Emergency Care - Category: Endocrinology Tags: Prehosp Emerg Care Source Type: research