Page 27 - Christiana Care Focus December 2018

“Dr. Nevin is bringing Delawareans to the threshold of recovery with evidence-based care, with empathy and with partnerships throughout our community.”
Christiana Care President and CEO Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, received the Amethyst Ball Humanitarian Award from Limen House. With Dr. Nevin at the presentation are Michael Duffy,
Limen House honors Janice Nevin for exceptional efforts to combat addiction
executive director of the Limen House (left), and U.S. Sen. Chris Coons from Delaware.
In addition to Project Engage, Christiana Care is successfully reducing the use of opi- oids systemwide. A Safe Opioid Stewardship Steering Committee leads a multifaceted strategy to promote responsible prescrib- ing practices, non-opioid alternatives to control pain and evidence-based guidelines for opioid prescription. In post-surgical areas, emergency departments and primary care, Christiana Care has reduced opioid prescriptions by up to 50 percent in these areas.
In partnership with New Castle County, Christiana Care created the pilot Community Substance Overdose Support Program (SOS), a response team of specially trained engagement specialists who, with the patients’ consent, will visit with patients following an overdose. The team can provide education and access to resources to patients and their families to help break the cycle of addiction.
“Dr. Nevin’s commitment to combating addiction from every angle is helping many people in our community stay healthy and get into treatment when they need it,” said Duffy. “Her efforts are making Delaware a national leader in helping people achieve sobriety and live their lives again.” 
For leading Christiana Care Health System in a comprehen- sive approach to preventing addiction and supporting recov- ery, Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, Christiana Care Health System president and CEO, was recog- nized with the Amethyst Ball Humanitarian Award on Nov. 10 at Greenville Country Club.
“I am deeply grateful to receive this honor from the Limen House, which has served our state as a pioneer in addiction recov- ery,” said Dr. Nevin. “Christiana Care is fortunate to partner with Limen House as we serve together to connect our neighbors with the support they need to break the cycle of addiction. When all other doors ap- pear to be shut tight, a light shines here at Limen House and the door is always open.”
Established in 1969 and located in Wilmington, Limen House is a sober living residence for people recovering from alcoholism and drug dependency.
Every day, more than 115 Americans die after overdosing on opioids, according to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse. New Castle County reports that the number of emergency department visits due to
overdoses more than doubled in the county in the last year.
“With Dr. Nevin’s leadership, Christiana Care is taking a 360-degree approach
to innovative methods to prevent and address addiction, which is the epidemic
of our time,” said Michael Duffy, executive director of Limen House. “Dr. Nevin is bringing Delawareans to the threshold of recovery with evidence-based care, with empathy and with partnerships throughout our community.”
Central to Christiana Care’s comprehen- sive approach to preventing and treating addiction is Project Engage, a novel early intervention program. Project Engage embeds engagement specialists — specially trained peers in recovery — in the hospital to reach individuals with substance use dis- orders when they most need help, providing a pathway to treatment. Some of those engagement specialists are Limen House alumni, and Limen House treats patients who come in through Project Engage.
Project Engage has drawn national atten- tion, including from the White House and Congress, for its innovative approach and success in reducing health care costs and utilization by reducing emergency depart- ment visits and hospital stays and improv- ing success rates of people in recovery.
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