Cutting-Edge Practice

Evidence Based Dyad Care – Substance Use Disorder

State/Jurisdiction: Virginia
Setting: Clinical
Population: Infant Women & Maternal
Topic Area: Mental Health & Substance Use Birth Outcomes
NPMs:

The Evidence Based Dyad Care (EBDC) Substance Use Disorder (SUD) project is an implementation science initiative led by the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative (VNPC), the state’s perinatal quality collaborative (PQC). This initiative aims to enhance outcomes for pregnant and parenting women, families, and infants affected by substance use disorder by focusing on the dyad – both mother and baby – and addressing their unique needs. This initiative was developed in response to the urgent need for standardized, evidence-based care for this population, recognizing that overdose is the second leading cause of death among perinatal women in Virginia.

Historically, much of the focus on perinatal substance use has centered on newborns, often without fully addressing the needs of the mother. However, research and experience have shown that the best outcomes for infants are achieved when maternal health and well-being are prioritized alongside neonatal care. The EBDC-SUD initiative takes a dyadic approach, ensuring that both the mother and baby receive comprehensive, coordinated care that improves long-term health outcomes for the entire family unit.

This work builds on the 2018 Virginia Plan for Services for Substance-Exposed Infants (SEI), mandated by House Bill 1157, which required the development of a multidisciplinary strategy for supporting families impacted by perinatal substance use. The EBDC-SUD initiative expands upon this foundation by working to reduce stigma, standardize hospital-based care, and improve coordination between healthcare providers and community resources.

The primary objectives of the EBDC-SUD initiative are to:
• Improve the care for pregnant women experiencing substance use
• Improve the care of newborns exposed to substances prior to birth
• Eliminate stigma associated with perinatal substance use & exposure

To achieve these goals, the EBDC-SUD project provides quality improvement strategies and activities for hospitals and providers, incorporating five key components: education, care coordination, communication, data, and screening. These efforts are rooted in a framework of respectful and compassionate care, ensuring that pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders receive optimal support to improve health outcomes.

The EBDC-SUD project was designed in collaboration with subject matter experts and individuals with SUD. Five pilot sites – Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, Winchester Medical Center, UVA Health Medical Center, and Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital – were selected to assess and improve the infrastructure necessary for enhancing perinatal substance use disorder care in their respective contexts and inform the project core components. The project is currently expanding, with a goal of recruiting half of Virginia's birth hospitals (25 out of 50) to participate.

The Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Implementation & Policy Hub project is supported by the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) and Perigee Fund. The content presented is the responsibility of the featured practices and policies and does not necessarily reflect the views of FORE, Perigee Fund, or AMCHP.

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CONTACT INFORMATION
Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative
Shannon Pursell
shannon.pursell@vcuhealth.org

Practice Website


For more information about this practice, please email evidence@amchp.org