Narcan Vending Machine Now Available at St. Clare Hospital
Sauk County Public Health and SSM Health have partnered through a state grant to install a Naloxone (Narcan) dispensing machine in St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo near the Emergency Department entrance in hopes that it will help save lives in Sauk County.
According to the Sauk County Public Health website, overdose deaths in Wisconsin have tripled in the past 8 years and about 90% of overdose deaths in Sauk County are due to opioid use. Naloxone (Narcan) is a life-saving medication that is used to reverse respiratory depression in both intentional and accidental opioid overdose. Narcan nasal spray takes effect in 2 to 3 minutes and lasts 20 to 60 minutes.
The machine is stocked routinely by the Sauk County Health Department and contains Narcan nasal spray, Deterra medication disposal kits, and substance use/mental health resources that are available 24 hours a day, every day. Community members who use Naloxone (Narcan) in a suspected opioid overdose emergency are covered by the/ Wisconsin Good Samaritan Law.
“The public health vending machine works just like any other vending machine, except all of the items are free for everyone,” says Hannah Erdman, a Health Educator at Public Health Sauk County, the agency that installed the vending machine. “The purpose is to provide free and easy access to life-saving supplies and resources.”
Dr. Cheryl Goeckermann, Addiction Medicine provider at SSM Health Dean Medical Group in Baraboo, also supports easy access to these supplies that help keep people alive and connected to resources. “The opioid overdose epidemic continues to harm our community,” she states. “Narcan is an important tool in our toolbox for one simple reason: dead people don’t have a chance at recovery. If we can keep them alive, they have a chance for treatment. I am proud of St. Clare Hospital for being a leader in Sauk County by partnering with Public Health to provide this vending machine.”
Since its installation in January of 2024, the machine has dispensed over 186 Narcan nasal spray bottles, 53 Deterra disposal kits, and 42 resource kits.
Pictured left to right are Hannah Erdman (holding the scissors), Sauk County Public Health Educator; Dr. Cheryl Goeckermann, SSM Health Physician; George Althoff, Executive Director, Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Maureen Murphy, SSM Health Physician and Vice President Medical Affairs SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo; DeAnn Thurmer, President, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Baraboo; and Johnny Holt, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Baraboo Emergency and Urgent Care Services Manager.
According to the Sauk County Public Health website, overdose deaths in Wisconsin have tripled in the past 8 years and about 90% of overdose deaths in Sauk County are due to opioid use. Naloxone (Narcan) is a life-saving medication that is used to reverse respiratory depression in both intentional and accidental opioid overdose. Narcan nasal spray takes effect in 2 to 3 minutes and lasts 20 to 60 minutes.
The machine is stocked routinely by the Sauk County Health Department and contains Narcan nasal spray, Deterra medication disposal kits, and substance use/mental health resources that are available 24 hours a day, every day. Community members who use Naloxone (Narcan) in a suspected opioid overdose emergency are covered by the/ Wisconsin Good Samaritan Law.
“The public health vending machine works just like any other vending machine, except all of the items are free for everyone,” says Hannah Erdman, a Health Educator at Public Health Sauk County, the agency that installed the vending machine. “The purpose is to provide free and easy access to life-saving supplies and resources.”
Dr. Cheryl Goeckermann, Addiction Medicine provider at SSM Health Dean Medical Group in Baraboo, also supports easy access to these supplies that help keep people alive and connected to resources. “The opioid overdose epidemic continues to harm our community,” she states. “Narcan is an important tool in our toolbox for one simple reason: dead people don’t have a chance at recovery. If we can keep them alive, they have a chance for treatment. I am proud of St. Clare Hospital for being a leader in Sauk County by partnering with Public Health to provide this vending machine.”
Since its installation in January of 2024, the machine has dispensed over 186 Narcan nasal spray bottles, 53 Deterra disposal kits, and 42 resource kits.
Pictured left to right are Hannah Erdman (holding the scissors), Sauk County Public Health Educator; Dr. Cheryl Goeckermann, SSM Health Physician; George Althoff, Executive Director, Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Maureen Murphy, SSM Health Physician and Vice President Medical Affairs SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo; DeAnn Thurmer, President, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Baraboo; and Johnny Holt, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Baraboo Emergency and Urgent Care Services Manager.
