This is a randomized clinical trial designed to test the effectiveness of the multi-component ED-LINC intervention. Patients with moderate or severe OUD seeking medical care at 2 EDs in Seattle, Washington, who provide informed consent will be randomized to the ED-LINC intervention (n=250) or usual care control (n=250) conditions.~ED-LINC will include: 1) overdose education, 2) brief bedside intervention targeting motivation to engage in outpatient care, 3) a patient-centered approach to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) using a treatment decision support tool, 4) longitudinal and proactive care management which will proceed for approximately 3 months, and 5) weekly caseload supervision allowing for stepped-up care targeting opioid use and comorbidity. This intervention will use the Emergency Department Information Exchange (EDIE) to re-engage patients with subsequent ED visits.~This study team developed the 'Emergency Department Longitudinal Integrated Care 2.0' intervention or 'ED-LINC' for patients with OUD to be initiated from the ED. In prior work, ED-LINC was feasible and retention in the study was high in both an intervention arm and a usual care control arm. Additionally, participants randomized to the ED-LINC arm were satisfied and acceptability of the intervention was high. Elements of ED-LINC are based on evidence-based treatments and are central components of collaborative care and will acknowledge the longitudinal care required for opioid use disorder and related substance abuse, mental health and medical comorbidity.
Collaborative care is a comprehensive patient-centered model of healthcare delivery targeting behavioral health or substance use that stems from the chronic disease management framework. The intervention being tested ('Emergency Department Longitudinal Integrated Care' or ED LINC) derives from the collaborative care model and has demonstrated feasibility in previous studies.~This study expands on the model to test the effectiveness of the ED-LINC intervention when compared with usual care. The study team primarily hypothesizes that patients randomized to the ED-LINC intervention, when compared to patients randomized to usual care, will demonstrate: 1) significant reductions in self-report illicit opioid use, 2) significant increases in initiation and retention of medications for opioid use disorder, and 3) significant reductions in ED utilization.