By admin 
BURLINGTON, Va. (WCAX) – The Burlington Fire Department is implementing what’s called the PREVENT Initiative to combat the opioid crisis in the Queen City.
It stands for Prehospital Vermont EMS Buprenorphine Treatment. The program allows paramedics to administer buprenorphine after an overdose, a drug critical to treating opioid use disorder.
Each ambulance is equipped with supplies, including water, to facilitate the administration of buprenorphine film strips. Before administration, ambulance personnel will consult medical management for advice.
Phones and tablets with BFD devices are equipped with the MDCalc app, allowing fast and accurate calculation of Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS) scores.
Crews will also be able to refer patients to local recovery programs. The department will be the first in the country to roll this out.
Officials say this is a monumental occasion for Burlington.
“This initiative marks a turning point in our community’s fight against the opioid epidemic,” said EMS Chief McCombie. “By empowering AEMTs and paramedics to administer buprenorphine, we are closing a critical gap in care and paving the way for healthier outcomes for the patients we serve. This is an important day for Burlington, Vermont and EMS across the country.”
The department says the program is complex and is committed to ongoing training, feedback and improvement as the initiative develops.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.