Episode #145 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Dr Gene Hern on Prehospital MedicineEpisode #145 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Dr Gene Hern on Prehospital Medicine
High Truths on Drugs and Addiction
What role does Prehospital Medicine or First Responders have in treating addiction? Is it just naloxone, or is there more? Dr. Gene Hern received his MS in Medical Ethics from UC Berkeley in 1994 and his MD from UCSF in 1996. He did his residency in Emergency Medicine at Highland Hospital in Oakland in 1996 and stayed on as faculty starting in 2000. In 2013, he was named US Emergency Medicine residency director of the year by the Emergency Medicine Residents Association. In 2014, he was honored by his residency director peers with the Micheal Wainscott Program Director Award by the Council of Residency Directors for his dedication to resident education. In 2022, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from CalACEP. He works as Medical Director for both Public and Private EMS Agencies in California and has been the Medical Director for GMR Contra Costa Operations since 2007. He is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. As a researcher, he has published 53 peer reviewed articles on topics as varied as racial differences in pre-hospital opiate use to illegal residency interview questions to the creation of Overdose Receiving Centers. He also has authored or co-authored 13 book chapters. His current research centers on the EMS treatment of Opioid Use Disorder and paramedic initiated buprenorphine.
51:43•2 Oct 2023
First Responders on the Front Line: Dr. Gene Hern's Approach to Addiction Treatment
Episode Overview
- Dr. Gene Hern discusses the use of buprenorphine by paramedics to treat opioid withdrawal and prevent overdose fatalities.
- The conversation highlights the critical need for a shift in perceptions towards opioid use disorder.
- Dr. Hern shares insights on the innovative approaches being taken to address the opioid crisis, emphasizing the potential for life-saving interventions in the prehospital setting.
- The episode provides valuable information on the role of first responders in treating addiction and the challenges and opportunities in prehospital medicine.
- Listeners gain a deeper understanding of the impact of opioid use disorder and the importance of early intervention and treatment.
“If you walk down the street and realize that, of the 20 people you saw, let's say they all had an opiate use disorder, one would be dead in a year. And to recognize that getting people into treatment saves lives and buprenorphine saves lives.”
Imagine you're a first responder, arriving at the scene of an overdose. What happens next? In this eye-opening episode of 'High Truths on Drugs and Addiction', Dr. Roneet Lev sits down with Dr. Gene Hern to explore the vital role of prehospital medicine in treating addiction. Dr. Hern, an esteemed figure in emergency medical services, shares his wealth of experience and groundbreaking methods that go beyond just naloxone.
From using buprenorphine to manage opioid withdrawal right at the scene, to shifting public perceptions about opioid use disorder, this conversation is packed with insights that could change how we approach addiction treatment. Dr. Hern's impressive background, including numerous awards and over 50 peer-reviewed publications, adds depth to this crucial discussion. Whether you're in the medical field or simply interested in innovative solutions to the opioid crisis, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the life-saving potential of prehospital interventions.
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