Our team
ScalaNW is a program created by the Washington State Health Care Authority working in partnership with health care organizations from throughout Washington state.
Jessica Blose, SUDP, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC
Washington State Opioid Treatment Authority, WA Health Care Authority
Jonathan Buchholz, MD
Director, Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship, University of Washington
Director, Addiction Consultation Service, VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Dr. Chris Buresh, MD, MPH, DTM&H
Assistant Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency Program UW
Practicing physician, Harborview Medical Center and Seattle Children’s, University of Washington
Nicole Davis-Westbrook, LMHC, SUDP
Director of Recovery and Peer Services, Washington Recovery Help Line
Dr. Charissa Fotinos, MD, MSc
State Medicaid Director, WA Health Care Authority
Liz Wolkin, RN, MSN, CEN, NPD-BC
ScalaNW Program Manager, WA Health Care Authority
“The Washington State Department of Health is thrilled to partner with the Health Care Authority as they launch the ScalaNW Emergency Department Bridge program. By offering 24/7 support to health providers caring for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), the leading causes of death among Washingtonians 18-44 years of age, we can save lives from overdose.”
Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH
WA Secretary of Health
“Emergency physicians have the unique opportunity to engage patients in treatment when they are often the readiest to accept help, whether after an overdose or when dealing with a complication from their opioid use disorder. This is the time to start them on treatment and help to end the cycle they feel stuck in.”
Dr. Nathan Schlicher, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP
Emergency physician, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
“MOUD is probably the most powerful tool available to us to stem the tide of overdose deaths from narcotics. Nothing else decreases the mortality from overdose like buprenorphine and methadone. It is important that all providers in the ED have the tools and support that they need to be able to offer this life-saving option to their patients.”
Chris Buresh, MD, MPH, DTM&H
Emergency physician, UW, Harborview and Seattle Children's
“Not everyone will want medications to treat opioid use disorder, but everyone should have access to them, especially immediately after overdose when patients are at the highest risk of death. ScalaNW is an incredibly important step to expanding access to evidence-based interventions across our state.”
Dr. Callan Fockele, MD, MS
Emergency and addiction medicine physician, Harborview Medical Center
ScalaNW is a program of the Washington State Health Care Authority.
This program has been endorsed by
Program partners
Thank you to the multi-disciplinary team of experts who collaborated on the development of our clinical protocols. Click here for a list of contributors.
