CONNECTIONS July 2018
An award-winning newsletter for Orange Regional Medical Center employees, physicians and volunteers
From The President & CEO The opioid and related drug overdoses and deaths in our nation and our community are staggering.
participation in HANYS Webinars and Schwartz Rounds on the topic and grant writing for support of Telehealth expansion.
Last year alone there were 99 deaths in Orange County from opioid overdoses. Sullivan County experiences a prescription opioid overdose rate nearly 3X the rate for New York State.
Through our active collaboration with non-profit partners, we hosted a film screening of “Reversing the Stigma” - real stories about combatting addiction in New York State and a community conversation, in conjunction with the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. We plan to offer an additional screening in Sullivan County soon.
Orange Regional Medical Center is committed to being a leader in efforts to reduce substance abuse and improve the mental health of our community. Our healthcare providers work actively to decrease the supply of prescription opioids by changing prescribing and dispensing practices, as well as preventing diversion of medications. Patient education is provided both for proper disposal of unused medications and for alternative pain management therapies that can provide relief without harm or risk of addiction. Orange Regional continues to look upstream at possible interventions including working with youth and educating our next generation of physicians on opioid addiction. Most importantly, all of our providers aim to remove the stigma around substance abuse. We encourage patients to be honest with their healthcare providers about their drug and alcohol use. Just like you look to your doctor for help with diabetes or cancer, it’s important that patients discuss their struggles with addiction, so that our physicians help them find the right resources and treatment plan. Orange Regional providers support patients with services like Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral for Treatment (SBIRT), as well as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Additionally, we are focusing on adding peer counselors in our ED, a needle and drug take back program, encouraging provider and staff training through
Our Director of Community Health, Amanda Langseder, has met with individuals in recovery. Many of them talked about being afraid to tell their doctors that they were using drugs. One young woman said she admitted to her doctor that she was using heroin during her pregnancy. She said she was terrified his response would be judgmental but instead he looked her right in the eye and said, “I will help you, let’s do this together.” We are all in this battle against opioid and substance abuse together. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, know there are resources throughout Orange and Sullivan counties ready to help, free of judgment. If you are providing care to members of our community that are struggling with addiction, ensure you are knowledgeable on these local resources and can confidently refer our patients for the help they need. Throughout the Greater Hudson Valley Health System, we are committed to being integral part of the solution during this opioid crisis. We will do this together. Sincerely,
Scott Batulis, President & CEO
CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ Orange Regional was re-accredited by the CEO Roundtable On Cancer with the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™, which acknowledges its commitment to the health of employees and their families by agreeing to meet a high standard of cancer prevention, screening and care guidelines. The CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ calls for companies to evaluate their health benefits and corporate culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to fight cancer in the workplace. To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an organization must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by discouraging tobacco use, encouraging physical activity, promoting healthy nutrition, detecting cancer at its earliest stages when outcomes may be more favorable and providing access to quality care, including participation in cancer clinical trials and employee wellness programs.