ENA is currently recruiting nurse champions who are interested in having a positive impact on their community by promoting a reduction in the number of trauma related injuries with alcohol involvement. This would be accomplished through the use of the SBIRT (Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) Program that is to start in 2008. Goals would be to reduce

• Initial and repeat alcohol related trauma injuries
• Alcohol consumption
• Emergency department visits
• Health care costs

 Champions will advance ED SBIRT in their emergency departments or place of practice and communities.  They will serve as leaders in promoting and disseminating SBIRT toolkits that were developed in collaboration with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and emergency departments across the country. 

   “Many studies show that the SBIRT procedure is an effective prevention intervention for reducing alcohol consumption, repeat injuries, repeat emergency department visits and health care costs” (ENA Connection, Nov. 2007, pg 8).  The SBIRT toolkit, which will be sent to 5,000 hospitals in the Spring of 2008, includes:

 

• Education Module for emergency health care professionals
• Motivational video
• Power point presentation for nurse educators
• Pocket guide
• Fact sheet
• Drinking agreement
• Patient brochures and
• Other resources.

 

Many Champions are needed.  Complete a SBIRT Champion Profile on the ENA website www.ena.org/ipinstitute/SBIRT/Benefits.asp or contact the Injury Prevention Institute via email at ipinstitute@ena.org, or call 842-460-4112, or 1800-900-9659x8 and the staff will be happy to help you.

 

Thank you for helping to reduce alcohol related injuries.  

Anne May, Assistant ENCARE Chairperson