When a family member, friend, or loved one develops an opioid addiction, few people know how to respond. Similarly, it is often difficult for healthcare providers to know how to best prevent, detect, and treat opioid use disorder, and almost every provider in the country has had encounters with patients experiencing addiction. As trusted guardians of their patients’ well-being, providers are exploring how to use technology to augment their experience, skill, and knowledge for improved care.

Transitions of care (e.g. from a nursing home to an emergency department) are often difficult, but are even more dangerous for the patient and healthcare providers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. ONC is working with private-sector innovators to find unique and rapid ways to help move patients from the hospital to the nursing home, or vice versa.