The Emergency Medical Overdose Surveillance System (Phase II)

Project Abstract
This project expands upon the success of the original EMODSS project and leverages the underlying infrastructure and world class technology platform.
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania continues to experience a high number of opioid and substance abuse overdoses. In 2020 and 2021, there were over 2,100 911 calls for service compared to an average of 432 from 2017-2019. It has been particularly devastating in the Liberty HIDTA region, which includes Montgomery County. According to the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, there was an increase of 472% in overdose calls for service in 2020 compared to 2019. The isolation effects of COVID-19 may be correlated to the dramatic increase in the number of opioid and other substance overdoses.
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) realizes that the robust, data-sharing and monitoring platform known as the Emergency Medical Overdose Surveillance System (EMODSS) is a critical asset for a data-driven approach to problem resolution. The County of Montgomery proposes to expand real-time data collection, engage wider stakeholder use, and expand the platform to make appropriate data available to more county agencies/departments, program partners and the public. DPS will seek to improve the Department’s use of this intelligence technology, both as an investigative tool and a data-hosting source. DPS will continue to develop data-sharing agreements with other County offices as well as external data-sharing partners to gain access to more in-depth drug-related incident data. This project will significantly expand the data capabilities of Health and Human Services with the County of Montgomery. The Liberty HIDTA and Delaware Valley Intelligence Center (DVIC) will also benefit from data sharing through EMODSS. Data analytics capabilities will be greatly improved with this project.
EMODSS stores public safety, coroner, naloxone distribution, public health, and qualitative data about drug use patterns of non-fatal and fatal overdose victims. The staff funded under this grant will work with all stakeholders to outline specific data sets that can be integrated into the secure platform EMODSS is built upon. Data will be used to identify prevention, education, intervention, diversion, recovery, and enforcement strategies that can be implemented throughout the life of the grant and beyond. A complete analysis of the data will allow the County to identify communities and individuals at greatest risk for drug misuse, abuse, and overdose. This will help the County’s Opioid Response Task Force to brainstorm, plan and implement data-driven responses and programs and target resources for maximum impact.