In early October, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center Emergency Department in Paterson, New Jersey, became the first facility in the nation to earn the new ACEP Pain and Addiction Care in the Emergency Department (PACED) accreditation. This new accreditation program is another important piece of ACEP’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis.

First PACED Accreditation

ACEP’s PACED program launched in early 2020 and is the first of its kind to recognize emergency departments that specialize in safe and effective pain and addiction treatment while minimizing the use of opioids or prioritizing alternatives to opioids. PACED-accredited facilities will accelerate the implementation of best practices nationwide and collaborate to help ensure that emergency physicians have the resources, protocols, and training necessary to provide the highest-quality pain and addiction management.

It’s fitting that the program’s first accreditation was awarded to the hospital that began the landmark Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) program back in 2016.

“Although we have made important strides in emergency department pain and addiction care, the opioid crisis continues to ravage our communities. PACED accreditation offers a structure for frontline staff and administrators to work together to ensure the safest evidence-based care is available for their entire community,” said Alexis M. LaPietra, DO, FACEP, chief of pain management/addiction medicine at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center.

PACED was created to benefit all three stakeholders involved: the patients, the emergency care team, and the hospitals. Importantly for emergency physicians, the program serves to accelerate the implementation of best practices while providing a structure that ensures emergency physicians have the resources and training to provide optimal pain and/or addiction management.

The program features three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The Bronze level is within reach of every hospital, and the Silver and Gold levels have higher standards that require more focused effort and resources. Learn more about this innovative new program and its accreditation requirements. 

X-Waiver Training

COVID-19 has created new barriers to care, and the isolation of the pandemic has affected patients with addiction. Many clinics are reducing hours and limiting the intake of new patients. For many, the emergency department is the only source of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD).

ACEP has been offering free, live X-waiver trainings on the Zoom platform throughout 2020. At the time this was published, ACEP had recorded 1,287 trainings through its Zoom courses this year. Though the curriculum was developed by emergency physicians, the courses are open to a broad audience. There are still opportunities for you attend a training; learn more.