This post was written by Todd Klinedinst, MSN, RN, CNO and VP of Patient Care Services, Parkview LaGrange Hospital.
The national opioid crisis continues and, according to statistics, is gaining momentum often due to a reliance on substances to cope with daily stress. For Parkview LaGrange Hospital, a concern about the incidence of substance abuse dates back to 2019 when substance abuse was identified as a priority in our Community Health Needs Assessment. As a result, Parkview LaGrange as well as Parkview Wabash Hospital have introduced Medical Detox services to support members in the community who are ready to begin detox.
Medical Detox services provide voluntary and discreet medical care to those attempting to detox from alcohol and other substances. For many who are wanting to break the cycle of substance dependence, getting through the physical challenges posed by withdrawal is the first and sometimes most difficult step. Additionally, withdrawal is potentially dangerous and can be complicated by other pre-existing medical conditions. We are here to help.
What to expect
Patients may come to a hospital Emergency Department with full blown withdrawal symptoms and complications while trying to detox at home on their own. By the time we see them, they have symptoms that need to be urgently addressed. However, Medical Detox is a safer, more supportive approach. Our team of physicians and nurses will monitor symptoms and provide high quality care to ensure a safe withdrawal process. The typical length of stay is 3 - 5 days on an inpatient general medical unit to manage any discomfort and symptoms.
The staff are familiar with the detox process and recognize the challenges associated with withdrawal. They will provide support and initiate comfort measures along the way. They are fully aware of and will monitor for the more serious medical issues that can accompany withdrawal, including cardiac, liver, kidney and cognitive functioning complications. They will work in conjunction with our hospitalists to address any concerns along the way.
The primary benefits of using Medical Detox services would be to begin measures early to lessen the discomfort, minimize health risks and increase the chance of successful detox in a safe, quiet and discreet environment.
Is this for you?
This service is available for those seeking detox from all of the most common substances, including but not limited to alcohol, cocaine, meth, opioids and prescription meds. We do not provide methadone or similar treatments.
It is our hope that once individuals are clean, they will be better prepared to receive services from a behavioral program that can help with their long-term recovery. There are a wide variety of recovery options available. Many of those programs require a participant to be substance-free for a period of time in order to participate, which is where we can help. We know getting clean is only the first step in a recovery process and we strongly support individuals pursuing any recovery program they believe is best for them after discharge.
Anyone who wishes to utilize our services can contact our Medical Detox coordinator at 260-463-9257 (LaGrange) or 260-569-2245 (Wabash) and schedule an appointment to discuss the services and be assessed. Individuals interested in our program do not need a physician referral, but we are glad to work with providers and other community referral sources to provide this important service.
