Recovering Professionals Services
Adult Day Hospital
Open House - September 5, 2008 (click here for
details)
Program
Updates/NEWS
Safe Drug Use for the Recovering Addict or Alcoholic
Inpatient, Partial Hospitalization, &
Intensive
Outpatient Treatment
| In 1977, Ridgeview set the standard for treatment of the impaired
health professional. In later years, we discovered that professionals in other fields
experience similar stress, develop similar coping mechanisms, and often require the same
kind of intervention and treatment to bring about recovery. The program was expanded in
1987 to include treatment for all professionals with addictive or dual diagnosis
disorders. Today, Ridgeview remains a nationally acclaimed treatment
provider. More than twenty years of experience has deepened
our understanding of the complexities of addiction and our ability
to successfully treat Recovering Professionals. |
Comprehensive 96-Hour
Evaluation
Most professionals referred to Ridgeview participate
in a 96-hour inpatient evaluation. Professionals referred by a
hospital wellness committee or corporate employer, or mandated for
evaluation by a licensing board or other agency, receive a diagnostic
summary, recommendations for treatment, if indicated, and referrals.
Led by an interdisciplinary team of addiction specialists, the 96-hour
evaluation includes a comprehensive examination of the individual's
physical, psychological, psychosocial, and spiritual health, occupational
and family issues, psychological testing, and a thorough medical work-up.
The professional will receive a diagnostic summary, any indicated
treatment recommendations, and appropriate referrals.
Program Overview -
Addiction Treatment
Treatment at Ridgeview is based on the belief that
addiction is a chronic, progressive, and relapsing primary illness
affecting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the
individual and family. Our program is based on a four-phase
continuum, pioneered at Ridgeview, which includes multiple levels of care,
the 12-Step programs, and a broad spectrum of specialty groups and
services. This approach allows us to address the unique issues of
the impaired professional in a comprehensive, yet individualized
manner. The treatment team, led by the attending
psychiatrist, develops an individual treatment plan for each patient based
on the four-phase continuum outlined below. Patients may
participate in one or all four phases depending upon the severity of the
problem.
Program Overview -
Psychiatric Treatment
Ridgeview
Institute has expanded its treatment of the Impaired
professional to include those with psychiatric disorders. Under
the direction of a board certified psychiatrist, our
multi-disciplinary staff offers state-of-the art care for
professionals who are experiencing difficulty managing their
lives, relationships and careers due to their psychiatric
disorder. The treatment team, led by the attending psychiatrist,
develops an individual treatment plan based on the same
four-phase continuum as the Addiction Impaired Professional.
Patients may participate in some or all four phases, depending
upon the severity of the problem. Treatment modalities include
medication management, psycho-educational groups, individual
therapy, group therapy, and family therapy.
Phase I: Intensive Inpatient
Treatment
Some patients require the safety and
security of 24-hour medical care for detoxification. Inpatient
treatment allows the professional to begin his or her recovery in an
intensive, medically monitored therapeutic environment.
Phase II: Partial Hospitalization
and
Recovery Residence
Partial hospitalization or day treatment is
the primary option of treatment for Recovering Professionals who do not
require initial 24-hour medical supervision. Therapy centers on
developing an understanding of addiction through behavioral containment
and cognitive restructuring. Specialty professional groups for
physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and others focus on the unique needs of
each profession, and provide support in their field of practice. Day
treatment combined with living in our Recovery Residence provides an
intensive therapeutic experience. Community living gives patients a
24-hour recovery environment and the opportunity to work on restoring the
balance between work, family, and leisure while still in treatment.
Phase III: Mirror Imaging
Treatment in Phase III is designed to help patients increase cognitive
awareness of the issues that trigger their addiction, develop a concrete
relapse prevention plan, and prepare to return to work. Some
patients participate in "mirror imaging," working under close
supervision with other addicted patients who are just beginning
treatment. Reaching out to others whose struggle reflects their own
can help the recovering professional break through the isolation of their
addiction. Professionals learn, during mirror imaging, how to relate
to others as a peer in recovery rather than doctor to patient, manager to
employee, or attorney to client.
Phase IV: Continuing Care
Phase IV is recovery, a lifelong process. Continuing care is often
the most critical phase of treatment. A written commitment between
the treatment team and the patient helps ease the stresses involved in
re-entering their family and professional lives. Patients may enter
this level of care after successfully completing treatment at Ridgeview or
another treatment center (assessment required). Phase IV includes
long-term group therapy, weekly profession-specific support groups, random
urine drug screening, quarterly monitoring and advocacy to licensing
boards, and/or employers.
|
Specialized
Tracks |
- Dual Diagnosis
- Relapse Prevention
- Eating Disorders
- Trauma Survivors
|
|
Continuing
Care |
- Profession specific support groups
- Professional therapy aftercare groups
- Advocacy with licensing boards,
employers, etc.
- Urine drug screen monitoring
-
Alumni reunions
|
Staff
Directed by a board certified psychiatrist with a certification in addiction
medicine, the Recovering Professionals Services
represents many professional disciplines, including medicine, nursing,
social work, addiction counseling, spirituality, expressive and activity
therapies. Many of the staff are recovering themselves, and have
both a personal and professional commitment to helping persons with
addictive problems. Experienced and compassionate, Ridgeview staff
work together as an interdisciplinary team to assist each patient through
the treatment process.
Family Workshop
Our four-day Family Workshop,
held monthly, provides opportunities for patients and families to heal
together. The program is designed to educate, open communication,
provide support, and help to integrate the family into the recovery
process. Addiction is a family disease and treatment for the entire
family is a critical component of the program. Master's level
clinicians provide a wide range of services, including individual therapy,
patient and family groups, and weekly support and education groups, to
patients' families and significant others during and after treatment.
Alumni Association
The Steering Committee for
Ridgeview's
Alumni Association has more than 100 members who are committed to
supporting patients in the adult addiction programs. Alumni are
available to talk with patients and families new to recovery,
support and reinforce the 12-Step programs, and help bridge the gap
between treatment and the outside world. Many former patients have
told us that talking to someone who had experienced success in recovery
made all the difference.
The Association is active in the recovering community
year round, and regularly sponsors speaker meetings, family events,
parties and retreats.
Referral
& Admissions
For more information on our Recovering Professionals program, admission,
or referral to a therapist or physician, call the Ridgeview Access Center,
(770) 434-4567 or 1 (800) 329-9775. Our counseling staff
are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
