Opioid Consortium Structure

The structure of the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium is comprised of one lead physician chair, an executive and education committee, as well as government relations and pharmacy subcommittees. All members represent the Opioid Consortium’s participating hospitals (Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, Northeast Ohio VA Healthcare System, St. Vincent’s Charity Medical Center and University Hospitals) and the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northeast Ohio.

Three of the five Opioid Consortium hospitals – Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth and University Hospitals – each agreed to contribute funding to support the additional program resources needed to launch and implement programming. The two remaining hospital members – Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center – provide non-financial, in-kind support in the form of staff time and expertise. The Center for Health Affairs’ additional funding contribution allows for an initial project period of three years. While the founding members determined early on that funders and non-funders would be treated virtually the same, the three funding organizations, along with The Center for Health Affairs, retain executive decision-making authority on Opioid Consortium activities.

The complete Opioid Consortium structure includes the following key members and committees:

PHYSICIAN CHAIR

The Opioid Consortium is currently lead by Physician Chair Joan Papp, MD, FACEP. Dr. Papp, director of The MetroHealth System’s Office of Opioid Safety and associate professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, will serve in the role for two years.

THE CENTER’S INTERNAL SUPPORT TEAM

The Opioid Consortium is a fully integrated program of The Center which provides the following staff and support resources: 

Brian Lane President & CEO 216.255.3601 | email	Amy Terry Director, NEO Hospital Opioid Consortium 216.255.3653 | email
The Center's Support Services Communications & Marketing Departments Data & Analytics Accounting Department

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Comprised of The Center for Health Affairs’ leadership team and the designated lead clinicians from the five Opioid Consortium hospitals and the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio. The three funding hospital systems, along with The Center, retain executive decision-making authority on Opioid Consortium activities.

EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE

Obtains, reviews and integrates content for a standardized education program for nurses and frontline staff to use across the continuum of care (e.g., emergency department, acute care, and ambulatory care). The work covers hospital areas such as inpatient, outpatient and ED. The education program also acts as a framework for patient and family education content and strategies.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

Monitors opioid-related policy and legislation as it pertains to hospital systems. This group may provide written or verbal advocacy or testimony as warranted to state and federal legislators, policymakers, and health insurers.

PHARMACY SUBCOMMITTEE

Provides information around availability, management and expanded accessibility of nasal Narcan within the inpatient and outpatient departments, emergency departments and hospital retail pharmacies. This Committee supports patient and provider education efforts as well as assists with other pharmacy and prescriber related initiatives within the Opioid Consortium strategic plan.

MEETING STRUCTURE

The Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium structure for meetings includes in-person quarterly meetings with the entire membership, as well as Executive Committee meetings occurring in between, and additional meetings taking place as necessary for priority projects such as grant proposal development or other projects requiring immediate action.

LEARN MORE

Contact us to learn more about the Northeast Ohio Opioid Consortium structure and key functions.