101 Impact of a Sobriety Emergency Response Unit on Ambulance Offload Delay in a Large Urban Hospital

Abstract

Approximately 1% of all emergency department (ED) visits in the United States involve uncomplicated alcohol-related complaints where they may contribute to ED overcrowding and ambulance offload delays (AOD). Since November 2017, a Sobriety Emergency Response (SOBER) Unit, a unique EMS resource staffed with a firefighter/paramedic, a nurse practitioner and caseworker, has been treating and diverting inebriated patients to a sobering center in lieu of the ED. At the sobering center, they can then be connected to appropriate substance abuse and mental health resources.