Against the odds of a devastating xylazine crisis, Philadelphia has found a fighting force within the Penn Medicine health network. Xylazine, a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer (also called ‘tranq’) that was never intended for human usage, has unfortunately become a critical health problem in the city, appearing in over 90% of illicit fentanyl samples by the end of 2023. The drug can lead to fatal overdoses and cause severe soft tissue wounds that are challenging to heal, resulting in an increased risk of infection and more critical cases in the intensive care unit. Affected individuals often avoid or withdraw prematurely from hospital treatment due to the stigma surrounding substance use, which renders their untreated wounds more susceptible to infection.
In light of these challenges, Penn Medicine has been instrumental in supporting individuals with xylazine-related wounds, both within their hospitals and in Philadelphia’s local communities. A key player in these efforts is Pattie Lamoreaux, a nurse at Pennsylvania Hospital, who has prioritized assisting patients in managing their wounds even outside of clinical environments. Starting in 2023, she began distributing wound care kits, consisting of gauze, bandages, rinse-free soap, and other crucial items, to individuals identified as having a heightened infection risk from xylazine usage. The kits were funded by a 2023 Penn Medicine CAREs grant, and their contents were chosen in collaboration with wound care specialists and pharmacy staff. Patient feedback on the kits has been overwhelmingly positive.
Among other community healthcare warriors are James Sherman and Emily Seeburger, who regularly devote their Saturdays to the Everywhere Project—an initiative aimed at providing essential harm reduction services. Their roles in the Everywhere Project are closely intertwined with their work at Penn Medicine. Sherman, a certified recovery specialist and clinical research coordinator at Penn Medicine’s Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy (CAMP), uses his own experiences to guide his commitment to overdose prevention education and patient advocacy.
Seeburger, a data analyst at the Center for Emergency Care Policy & Research and the Center for Health Justice, balances her research with hands-on volunteer work. Her data analysis relating to neighborhood interventions informs her community engagement, contributing to life-saving policy decisions.
Finally, Rachel McFadden, a Penn Medicine emergency department nurse and a Wound Care Clinic nurse at Prevention Point, champions empathetic, patient-centered care. She focuses on building trust and encouraging proactivity among patients while seeking out solutions to minimize distress and further the reach of treatment.
These outstanding examples underline the urgent need for comprehensive intervention strategies, including withdrawal treatment protocols, educational initiatives, and wound care kits. By fostering a synergic dialogue between the hospital setting and the community, healthcare professionals can instill trust in patients, encouraging them to seek and continue essential care.
Source: https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/compassionate-connections-are-key-to-xylazine-related-care