VPSA’s Substance Use Disorder Patient and Provider Experience (SUDPPE) Task Group wants to help empower and support Vancouver Acute and Vancouver Community staff to provide the best possible environment for patients with substance use disorder. To that end, the group is funding a pilot project to support initiatives that enhance the care environment.
This first project builds on the work emergency physician Dr. Jessica Moe has been doing for several years with patients with SUD. Two of her earlier projects have been supported by Small Steps, Big Idea funding.
“We’re now turning our attention to understanding patient and provider experiences with peer support workers in emergency departments who support people who use drugs,” explained Dr. Moe. “ED peer support workers were introduced at VGH this past November, but medical staff haven’t had the opportunity to explore the insights the peers have gathered from their interactions with patients as well as with health-care providers. These are important as they will allow us to refine the peer project and improve engagement and collaboration.”
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