Improving follow-up care after a non-fatal drug overdose for Veterans
Strategies to improve Utilization of Post-overdose Evidence-based Risk mitigation among Non-fatal Overdoses in VA (SUPER NOVA)
Finding better ways to make sure Veterans who survive a non-fatal drug overdose get proven treatments and timely follow-up care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11280839 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I survive a non-fatal overdose, this project looks at how the VA documents and responds to that event so I can get timely help. The team will use VA medical records and the Suicide Behavior and Overdose Report (SBOR) to track whether patients receive risk-mitigation steps like referrals and medications for opioid use disorder. They will try practical strategies to increase use of the SBOR and other post-overdose actions and measure whether more Veterans receive treatment after those changes. The work combines analysis of patient data with changes to clinical workflows within VA care settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Veterans who recently survived a non-fatal drug overdose and receive care within the VA health system are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not receive care through the VA, who had no recent overdose, or who die before receiving follow-up would not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more Veterans who survive overdoses could get lifesaving medications, referrals, and follow-up that lower their risk of future overdose and death.
How similar studies have performed: Medications for opioid use disorder and post-overdose referral efforts have reduced overdose deaths in prior research, but efforts to reliably increase post-overdose treatment in real-world VA settings have had mixed results.
Where this research is happening
Palo Alto, United States
- Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys — Palo Alto, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oliva, Elizabeth M. — Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys
- Study coordinator: Oliva, Elizabeth M.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.