CCG_Annual Report_2025_web - Flipbook - Page 38
Charles County Government Annual Report • 2025
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND SAFETY
MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH (MIH) –
FULL-TIME EXPANSION
In 2024, Charles County expanded its Mobile Integrated
Health (MIH) Team to provide 24/7 coverage, strengthening the Count y’s communit y paramedicine model
t hat connec t s resident s to heal t hcare ser v ices ,
chronic disease support, and communit y resources.
Established in 2017 through an MOU with the Charles
Count y Depar tment of Health and Charles Regional
Medical Center, MIH is funded through a mix of county
and partner resources, including the count y budget,
ARPA, opioid restitution funds, CCDOH grants, and
CRMC. Following the move to round-the-clock staffing — including dedicated paramedic and EMT positions
— the MIH program increased active participation from
15 patients before expansion to more than 40 patients
after expansion. Program performance data presented
to the Commissioners also indicates reductions in hospital utilization among MIH participants (Year 7 data),
including fewer ED visits, inpatient admissions, and
30-day readmissions.
LAUNCH OF EMS-INITIATED BUPRENORPHINE
In October, the Charles County Mobile Integrated Health
(MIH) Team of ficially implemented MARYLAND’S
MODEL-T PROTOCOL , expanding post-overdose care
beyond traditional “leave-behind” naloxone (Narcan).
Through this program, specially trained paramedics can initiate Buprenorphine in the field for patients
experiencing opioid withdrawal following an overdose
or requesting help for opioid use disorder.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist approved for the
treatment of opioid use disorder. Under Maryland’s MIEMSS
MODEL-T protocol, EMS clinicians may assess patients using
standardized withdrawal criteria (e.g., clinical withdrawal
scoring) and administer an initial dose when appropriate.
The medication reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings, lowers the risk of repeat overdose, and helps stabilize
patients during the critical window bet ween emergency
response and formal treatment engagement. The protocol
includes medical oversight, defined eligibility criteria, dosing
guidelines, and required patient education and referral procedures to ensure safe, evidence-based administration.
In addition to medication initiation, the MIH Team provides
direct linkage to care, coordinating follow-up appointments
with community treatment providers and recovery resources
to support continued treatment and long-term recovery. This
effort is conducted in close partnership with the Charles
County Department of Health Behavioral Health Division
and under the clinical guidance of Medical Director Dr.
Seaman, ensuring continuit y bet ween pre-hospital care
and outpatient treatment services.
The impact was immediate.
Just four minutes after officially
being placed in service, the
MIH Team responded to
its first call under the new
protocol — underscoring the
urgent and ongoing need for
opioid dependence services in
the community.
By combining rapid EMS response,
evidence-based medication
treatment, and coordinated follow-up
care, the program strengthens Charles
County’s comprehensive approach
to reducing opioid overdoses and
improving recovery outcomes
for residents.
38 /
CharlesCountyMD.gov
