ADCARE HOSPITAL OF WORCESTER

SPRING 2015
ADCARE HOSPITAL OF WORCESTER
VOL 21, NO. 2
AdCare Rhode Island Inpatient Treatment Center Earns Accreditation
from The Joint Commission
AdCare Rhode Island Inpatient Treatment Center, located in North Kingstown, RI earns accreditation from The
Joint Commission (TJC), formerly known as The Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation (JCAHO), by
demonstrating continuous compliance with its national performance standards for healthcare quality and safety.
The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s
commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and
largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
An unannounced on-site survey of AdCare Rhode Island was conducted In December 2014. During the rigorous review,
a surveyor from The Joint Commission evaluated compliance with standards related to several areas, including emergency
management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management. On-site interviews
were also conducted.
“Accreditation by The Joint Commission provides healthcare organizations with the processes needed to improve in a variety of
areas from staff development and education to the improvement of daily business operations,” said Mark G. Pelletier, RN, M.S.,
chief operating officer, Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. “We commend AdCareRhode Island for its efforts to become a quality improvement organization.”
“Staff from across our organization will continue to work together to develop and implement approaches that have the potential
to improve care for the patients in our community,” said Jeffrey W. Hillis, President of AdCare Hospital. AdCare Rhode Island’s
accreditation is awarded for a three-year period. To view AdCare Rhode Island’s Quality Reports, visit www.qualitycheck.org, a
website of The Joint Commission.
Located in a serene setting on twenty-nine wooded acres off of Route One in North Kingstown, AdCare Rhode Island provides
medically-managed inpatient detoxification from a range of addictive substances; a crisis stabilization unit that offers dual
diagnosis services for individuals with co-occurring substance abuse and psychiatric symptoms; and an Acute Residential
Program/Rehab. that provides a full range of clinical services to stabilize the client and engage them in ongoing recovery and
aftercare.
Families in Recovery
By Stephanie Brown, Ph.D.
Early recovery was a self-obsessed time for us. Our children had a “recovering Dad” and a “recovering Mom”, but who was
taking care of them? No one. I will be forever grateful for sobriety, but I have a profound regret that we abandoned our children in
the service of our own recoveries.
Abstinence marks a positive beginning rather than an end. Recovery is a difficult, painful process of radical change that is never
easy and rarely smooth for anyone involved. Without knowledge about what to expect, including the paradox that what is normal
and necessary to long-term positive change is also disruptive and even traumatic in the short run, the impact of such turmoil can
cause further damage. Over the past six years, we have interviewed and tested 52 couples and families (those who were together
for at least five years during drinking and who are still together in recovery) with sobriety ranging from a few months to over 18
years in order to discover what recovery is like. We have examined the process of change according to length of sobriety within
three domains: the environment, the system, and the individuals within the system.
What have we learned?
• The four stages of recovery already defined for the individual hold true for the family: Drinking, Transition (the move from
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drinking to abstinence), Early Recovery (the stabilization of abstinence with new
learning, much uncertainty and constant change), and On-going Recovery (when
massive change has been consolidated and the family is guided by the organizing
norms, values and beliefs of recovery).
•The environment, or context, of the drinking family is traumatic and harmful
to children and adults. It remains unsafe and potentially out of control into Early
Recovery which may last as long as three to five years. In Ongoing Recovery,
the environment is safe and not thrown off track by the difficulties and crises of
normal life.
•The unhealthy drinking family system must collapse as the family enters
recovery, permitting attention to shift from the system to the individuals. Many
families do not accomplish this collapse, nor do they survive it. Because there is so much disruption with abstinence, and so much
turmoil caused by the collapse of the system, many families break up, seeing that things have gotten worse, not better. Our data
explain how outside support networks (12-step programs, treatment centers, therapists) provide a “holding environment” for all
members of the family, a cushion and substitute for the drinking family system that has collapsed. Families utilize these outside
supports to weather the difficult changes of the first three to five years. It may be five to ten years before a stable, strong sense of
healthy family is secure. Change like this does not occur from inside the family in the vacuum created by abstinence. It requires
external guidance and supports. Yet conventional treatment wisdom often leans in the opposite direction: much of family therapy
is aimed at bringing individuals together, to focus on a “we.” Our work demonstrates the importance of an individual focus during
the early period.
• There is sometimes an unrecognized dark side: children may be neglected as parents focus exclusively on their individual
recoveries and abdicate parenting responsibilities. We think it will be surprising to many that children experience a “trauma of
recovery” in addition to the horrors of drinking. It is grim news to learn that children may feel worse, not better, just like their
parents, and they may experience physical abandonment as well as continuing psychological isolation due to their parents’
recovery.
Data on the process of family recovery shocks us with mixed news: Yes, recovery is positive; the end of the drinking is extremely
important and lays the necessary foundation for in-depth change. But we must face the fact that what is essential for parents may
be inadvertently damaging for their children, but only if we deny it. Once we acknowledge this reality, we can address the holes
in our treatment programs so we may better protect children and support parents in their recoveries. We can also focus on the
absolute need for support structures outside the family, which we are calling “community systems,” and on the need to expand
our ideas of prevention to include recovery. Our current theories and practice for the professional treatment of alcoholism and the
family leave people hanging without necessary knowledge and support. For complete article, visit 800alcohol.com/family-services
Note: This article is adapted from the book The Alcoholic Family in Recovery: A Developmental Model by Stephanie Brown, Ph.D., and Virginia Lewis, Ph.D.,
published by Guilford Press, fall, in 1998. Dr. Brown is a NACoA founder and a member of the current NACoA Advisory Board. Copyright © 2001 NACoA
April is National Alcohol Awareness Month
This April, AdCare Hospital is pleased to join in the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) grassroots
campaign to highlight the critical public health issue of alcoholism and its impact on individuals, families and the community,
while highlighting area and regional resources available to help.
Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. NCADD research also supports these alarming
statistics:
• One in every 12 adults (17.6 million people) suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence.
• More than 7 million children live in a household where at least one parent is dependent on or has abused alcohol.
• The typical American will see 100,000 beer commercials before he or she turns 18.
• Young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin
drinking at age 21.
• Alcohol is a primary factor in the four leading causes of death for young people ages 10-21
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AdCare Unveils Patient
Information Center
AdCare unveils Patient Information Center, a free-standing,
self-service kiosk conveniently located in the atrium area
of AdCare Outpatient Worcester. Made possible through
Award Money from the National Network of the Library
of Medicine’s (NLM) New England Region, the Patient
Information Center gives AdCare patients access to their
health information, further treatment and recovery-support
options, and reliable health information on over 900 diseases
and conditions.
New England Regional Director of NLM Elaine Martin,
AdCare Community Services Representative Ellen Barry,
and Executive Director of the AdCare Educational Institute
Jim Gorske submitted a successful proposal to the National
Library of Medicine for award
money to develop a customized
information kiosk for AdCare
patients. Links to recovery on
the kiosk are MedlinePlus.
gov, adcare.com, Patient Portal,
Alumni, Viverae Health, and
Massachusetts Organization for
Addiction Recovery.
SBIRT Webinar
Series
Did you know that the
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
includes substance use
disorders as one of the ten
elements of essential health
benefits? This means that
individuals and families
will have health insurance
that covers treatment for
substance use disorders. As
part of an effort to fill this
service need, NAADAC,
the Association for
Addiction Professionals, has
partnered with the National
SBIRT ATTC, NORC at
the University of Chicago,
The BIG Initiative, and
SAMHSA to deliver a free
8-part SBIRT Webinar
Series.
*For more information please go to
800alcohol.com/education-training
All webinars are a free CE credit.
Helping Patients Walk the
Journey to Better Health
We know it has been a rough winter for many and we are
glad spring is here! Viverae Health provides an easy way
for AdCare patients, alumni, and family to get and stay
connected with people in recovery on the web. Studies show
that if we connect with people who are working a strong
program, we are more likely to work a strong program too.
Viverae Health is a leading social media platform that helps
members achieve and maintain positive health changes.
Unlike other social media sites, Viverae Health focuses on
helping members manage specific behavioral health and
chronic conditions, while remaining completely anonymous
in their interactions. Viverae Health’s 37 communities
encompass mental health and medical conditions such as
anxiety, PTSD, stress, pain, and
weight management, as well
as substance use disorders.
Viverae Health coaches and
members provide real time, peer
encouragement and support, in
addition to online meetings and
expert webinars.
Notables
MAADAC, Massachusetts Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors Honors
AdCare Treatment Director Susan B. Hillis with 2015 Robert Logue President’s Award;
Recognizes James F. McKenna with Special Recognition Award. “Susan Hillis has been
supportive of MAADAC membership and events and dedicated to addiction treatment, recovery, and
credentialing in the Commonwealth for over 20 years,” said MAADAC President, Gary Blanchard.
Retired VP of Marketing for AdCare Hospital, Jim McKenna continues to represent AdCare as VP
of Special Projects for AdCare Rhode Island.
At The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Meeting on Treating
Substance Use Disorders Today: Access, Recovery, and the Affordable Care Act, cohosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),
on January 21. (L-R): Sue Shaw, AdCare Community Services Representative; Tom Coderre,
Senior Advisor to the Administrator at SAMHSA; Michelle Harter, Manager Anchor Recovery
Community Centers; Holly Cekala, Executive Director Rhode Island Cares; and Maryanne
Frangules, Executive Director of MOAR, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery.
Recovery Planning Partner - AdCare Staff Attend Recovery Month Planning Partners
Meeting Outside SAMSHA, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Building in
Rockville, M.D. (L-R): Tom Coderre, Senior Advisor to the Administrator at the Substance Abuse
& Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) with Holly Cekala, Executive Director
Rhode Island Cares; Michelle Harter, Manager Anchor Recovery Community Centers; AdCare’s
Susan Shaw, Community Services Representative with Lisa Clark, VP of Marketing & Business
Development; & Tom Joyce, Associate Director of Recovery Support Services at Anchor Recovery.
Athol Memorial Hospital and Hillis Family Dedicate Renovated Board Room in Memory
of Frederic W. Hillis, On March 4, hospital staff, physicians, family and community members
gathered to honor and dedicate the newly renovated Athol Hospital Board Room in memory of
Frederic W. Hillis, a man whose life’s mission was to advance the health and wellness of his
community. Well-known in the North Quabbin region as a leader and visionary, Hillis worked
tirelessly to provide access to quality healthcare. Hillis was named Administrator of Athol
Memorial Hospital in 1960 – a position he held until his retirement in 1985.
800-ALCOHOL
AdCare Hospital of Worcester, Inc.
107 Lincoln Street
Worcester MA 01605
Community Services On The Move
April 1 | 6pm
Identifying Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors: Using CBT as a
Core Recovery Tool
Presentation by Annette McTague, Pys.D., AdCare Clinician
Modern Assistance Professionals Education Series, Quincy MA
April 2 | 7pm
Learning Healthy Boundaries when Dealing with your Addictive
Loved One
Presentation by Karen MacDonald, LADC-II
Learn to Cope at AdCare Hospital, Worcester MA
April 6 | 7pm
Understanding the Bio-Physio-Chemical Makeup of Addiction
Presentation by Annette McTague, Psy.D., AdCare Clinician
DCF Grandparents Group, Braintree MA
April 13
Addiction and Recovery
Presentation by Jennifer Kirk, LICSW, AdCare-Quincy Director
Neuro Rehab Management Head Injury Con. Providers, Quincy MA
April 14 | 5:30-7:45pm
MOAR Alcohol Awareness Forum
Mechanics Hall, Worcester MA
April 14 | 12-1pm
Chronic Pain and Addiction
Presentation by Paula Morrissette, Psy.D., Senior Clinicial AdCare
Hospital
Harrington Hospital, Southbridge MA
April 15 | 11-2pm
College of the Holy Cross Wellness Fair
Hogan Center, Worcester MA
April 23
Maria Droste Fundraiser
Lantana, Randolph MA
April 28 | 10:30-11:30am
Addiction and Recovery
Presentation by Priya Mittal, LMHC, Clinician, AdCare Quincy
Neuro Rehab Management Head Injury Con. Providers, Quincy MA
May 7 | 10-2pm
Annual Health & Safety Fair
Northampton Senior Center, Northampton MA
May 8 | 6-10pm
Duffy Health Center Gala
Rectrix Aerodrome, Hyannis MA
May 27
Western New England University Regional Social Work
Conference
Western New England University, Springfield MA
June 6-11
New England Institute of Addiction Studies Summer School
Worcester State University, Worcester MA
June 10
How Substance Abuse Impacts Families & Importance of Selfcare
Presentation by Jennifer Kirk, LICSW, AdCare-Quincy Director
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference, Marlboro MA
June 18 | 11-7pm
MA Veterans Stand Down
MA Veterans Shelter, Worcester MA
*For more information about our Community Services Events, please
contact 800-345-3552, ext. 4050 or visit adcare.com.
The articles in this publication should not be considered specific medical advice, as each individual circumstance is differnt. Should you need
medical advice, consult your physican. Entire publication © AdCare Hospital, 2015. All rights reserved.