SPOKANE — A unique two-person team at MultiCare Deaconess and Valley Hospitals is making a difference for patients struggling with opioid addiction by combining medical expertise with lived experience.
As the only hospital-based Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) team in the Spokane area, nurse Sara Welty and care navigator, Chandelle Gill help patients with opioid use disorder.
“They either come to us in active withdrawal, seeking help with detox. They come and they’re a patient in the unit, and they are experiencing some of the terrible withdrawal side effects,” said Welty.
It’s Welty and Gill’s approach that sets their team apart.
“We have the time to spend with patients and really meet patients where they’re at so we can sit down with them and talk to them one on one about their use patterns,” said Welty.
As a nurse Welty is able to assess patients and provide medical advice to their providers.
Gill brings a powerful personal perspective to her work. Having battled opioid addiction herself, she connects with patients on a deeper level.
“I get to kind of go in and be like, I know everything hurts. I know what that feels like. I know what you’re going through. How can I help?” Gill explained.
Together, Welty and Gill create a judgment-free environment for patients in active withdrawal or experiencing withdrawal side effects. After addressing immediate symptoms, they work with community partners to try and connect patients with continued treatment.
MultiCare’s program represents an important resource in addressing the opioid crisis, offering immediate intervention when many patients might otherwise continue to struggle without appropriate care.
They were recently awarded with the Community Health Leadership Award for this program by the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA).
MultiCare says this program is all grant-funded.
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