The American Hospital Association (AHA) announced on October 24th that they have been granted nearly $1.5 million by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This funding forms part of the CDC’s National Partners Cooperative Agreement, and will be utilized to reinforce hospital and health system initiatives targeted at grappling with opioid and stimulant use disorder, as well as boosting infection prevention and control mechanisms.
The esteemed Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET), a subsidiary of the AHA, has been entrusted with leading the initiatives which focus on opioid use disorder in diverse settings such as primary care clinics, hospitals during patient discharge and transition processes, and pharmacies. This endeavor is designed to improve patient accessibility to care and enhance support for long-term recovery efforts.
Chris DeRienzo, M.D., Chief Physician Executive of the AHA and President of HRET, highlighted the persisting public health challenge posed by the opioid crisis. He further emphasized that the new funding will serve to fortify the critical connection between patients and potentially lifesaving treatments, providing essential support to hospitals and health systems as they strive to shape an infrastructure that is instrumental for a healthier future.
Additionally, the grant will bolster the Living Learning Network (LLN), an online community comprising over 1,200 members engrossed in peer learning in fields such as patient safety, sepsis, and health equity. Part of the proceeds will also be assigned to build on past CDC initiatives at rural hospitals and create a Rural Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Community of Practice. This platform will encourage collaboration and development of customized IPC metrics suitable for rural settings.