Marshfield Clinic

As the largest, nonprofit, integrated rural healthcare system serving Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) will implement a multi-level support system in response to the opioid overdose crisis in rural Wisconsin. Identified counties each have a rural population facing numerous barriers to healthcare, limited resources, and a growing opioid epidemic. Individuals in these counties who are suffering with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) often face stigmatization regarding their condition and may not have access to the life-saving medication, NARCAN, to avoid an overdose death. Patients with SUD/OUD are often forced to travel several hours (sometimes daily) to receive treatment from a provider who is both knowledgeable and understanding of their condition and well-versed in treatment options such as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), which has proven highly effective in patients seeking recovery. Over the course of twelve months, project staff will engage hospital staff and resources and community partners in creating a sustainable, Recovery-Oriented System of Care (ROSC) that expands access and resources to a vulnerable population.