PHI’s Oregon Public Health Institute and Bridge Center Receive Inaugural NNPHI Award

The Oregon Public Health Institute (OPHI) and the Bridge Center (Bridge), programs of the Public Health Institute (PHI), received the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) inaugural 2026 Outstanding Collaboration Award for their partnership in launching an emergency medical services (EMS) buprenorphine roadmap. Co-developed with the Oregon Health Authority, the project’s funding partner, the roadmap provides evidence-based guidance, operational steps and advocacy strategies to support EMS-delivered buprenorphine in Oregon. Bridge contributed national expertise from prior pilots, while OPHI brought connections to local partners, navigation of Oregon’s behavioral health and public health systems and strategic guidance that enabled rapid, effective implementation. Together, they partnered with EMS agencies, emergency clinicians and local champions to deliver pilot trainings, workgroups and convenings statewide.

Under the EMS Bridge model, paramedics administer buprenorphine in the ambulance and use motivational interviewing to connect patients to emergency departments that treat opioid use disorder. For patients with opioid use disorder, buprenorphine has shown to increase odds of continued treatment, and decrease mortality by 70% following non-fatal overdoses. The pilot reached 186 participants across seven urban and rural counties through seven trainings and convenings, leading to immediate practice changes, stronger EMS–ED coordination and improved continuity of care.

The NNPHI Awards Program recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that make exemplary contributions to improving the public’s health and embody NNPHI’s mission and values.

Originally published by NNPHI