Opioid Overdose Reporting

Emergency Departments (EDs) across the state are required by regulation 216-RICR-20-20-5 to report all cases of suspected opioid overdoses within 48 hours. This reporting requirement creates a consistent system for tracking data from patients who are admitted to EDs for a suspected drug overdose. These data identify overdose risk factors as well as geographic clusters of overdoses in near real-time. As a result, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and other entities can mobilize statewide resources to respond to the needs of high-risk populations.

What physicians, physician assistants, and registered nurses must do

• Report data from ED visits for individuals suspected of having an opioid-related drug overdose within 48 hours to RIDOH.

What we have done

• Made consistent efforts to educate hospital and ED stakeholders on the reporting requirement.

What we do

• Mobilize statewide resources to respond to the needs of high-risk populations.
• Make opioid overdose-related ED visit data publicly available via the RIDOH Substance Use Epidemiology Program’s Drug Overdose Surveillance Data Hub.
• Communicate with non-compliant ED’s to ensure high quality data collection.

What we will do

• Issue a complaint to the appropriate regulatory board and Center for Facility Regulations if a hospital or ED is deemed non-compliant.