Project Engage Helps Patients on Road to Recovery

Like all journeys, the road to recovery for those living with substance use disorder begins with the first step. And thanks to a grant provided by the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy, both Hampshire Memorial Hospital and War Memorial Hospital now have resources to help patients find the right path for long-term recovery.

Through Project Engage, both hospitals have developed a coordinated program—staffed by uniquely trained peer recovery support specialists (PRSS)—with the goal of connecting patients who have a substance use disorder to critical resources, whether that’s an inpatient treatment program, outpatient counseling, detoxification, or harm-reducing tools like free take-home naloxone kits.

“We meet the patients where they are, whether in the Emergency Department or in our inpatient unit,” explains Emma Winn, PRSS, who has been hired as the substance use coordinator for both hospitals. “Our mission is to eliminate as many barriers to recovery as possible, whether that’s transportation, education, or researching and coordinating referrals to the most appropriate services.”

One tool that is used to help identify patients who may be at risk for substance use disorder is SBIRT: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. Based on the results of the SBIRT assessment, a peer recovery coach provides appropriate services, including following up with patients after discharge.

Since beginning the program earlier this year, Winn has worked with dozens of patients and has been successful in getting a number of them admitted into inpatient programs, while others have been referred to resources in their communities. The program recently expanded to include two additional peer recovery support specialists.

As part of the certification process in West Virginia, a PRSS has to have personal experience with substance use and be in a prolonged period of recovery. It’s this personal experience, Winn says, that allows them to connect with individuals on a deeper level and offer more empathy and understanding. “I’ve been that patient in a hospital bed, so I know firsthand the devastating impacts substance use can have on your life,” she says.