Healthcentric Advisors is honored to receive a $75,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation, funded through the state’s Opioid Settlement Agreement. This support will launch a pilot initiative to convene a cross-continuum workgroup, identify evidence-informed protocols, and collaborate with 10–15 nursing homes to implement these protocols, train staff champions, and strengthen partnerships with key community providers to improve care for residents living with or recovering from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
Many nursing homes in Rhode Island are caring for residents with OUD but may lack training and support. Through this pilot, Healthcentric Advisors will work with participating facilities to adapt best-practice protocols for long-term care, host regional forums for collaboration, and create an OUD-Recovery Ready certification pathway for facilities that successfully implement protocols and train staff.
Our state’s nursing homes are a vital part of the continuum of care for people with OUD, ” said John Keimig, President and CEO of Healthcentric Advisors. “This initiative equips staff, strengthens partnership, and supports nursing homes in becoming recovery-ready, improving outcomes, and fostering a healthier, more supportive environment for both residents and caregivers.”
This work builds on Skilled to Support, a program designed to strengthen the capacity of Rhode Island nursing home staff to provide substance use care. Expanding this work into a facility-level certification pathway ensures lasting impact and aligns with broader regional efforts in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where Healthcentric Advisors partners with nursing homes to adopt protocols, convene collaboratives, and advance recovery-ready care.
Rhode Island nursing homes interested in learning more or exploring how to get involved are encouraged to contact us at: [email protected].
