Lincoln County Ambulance District

Lincoln County Ambulance District (LCAD) is a regional ambulance district that provides east-central Missouri residents access to quality health care. One of the most common themes raised in community meetings during the development of LCAD's strategic plan was the need for behavioral and mental health services. LCAD's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program project's goal is to reduce the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in its high-risk rural communities. This program is an opportunity to expand the service delivery model for treatment and recovery services for individuals with SUD/OUD through the evidenced-based Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) model. The MIH model is comprised of a primary care provider, community paramedics, emergency medical technicians, Community Health Workers, and a newly added, a Peer Support Recovery Specialist. This MIH team will provide excellent and accessible care, address many social determinants of health issues, and reduce costs to the health care system. LCAD recognizes that its team is usually the first on scene so it can provide an "in the moment" opportunity for behavioral health services such as field initiated suboxone, peer support services, immediate care with medical providers via telehealth, and wrap around services for the patient's follow-up care through its MIH program. LCAD understands that it is imperative to capture these vulnerable patients "in the moment," and that is exactly what the MIH team intends to do. The program will focus on the following key strategies: harm reduction with Narcan/naloxone distribution; improving access to treatment by purchasing a vehicle; training and certification; assisting individuals with obtaining health insurance, treatment, and social services; expanding peer recovery support specialists; providing mobile crisis intervention services; and improving capacity to telehealth services.