Searching for “the right” outpatient addiction treatment program can be overwhelming. So, it is important to make sure the program is a good match for you or your loved one. However, not all programs are equal. Here are 5 specific attributes that define an excellent outpatient treatment program.
Properly Trained Staff
The staff are the backbone of any business, and if they aren’t well equipped with the skills and personalities to help someone through recovery, it can be rather frustrating. It is so incredibly important that a treatment center hires people who are empathetic, understanding, and caring. As a patient walking through the front door for the first time, you want to be met with someone who has a smile on their face and a welcoming vibe. Secondly, it is equally as important that the staff is professionally trained and licensed to do what they do. This means making sure the nurses are registered, the doctors have proper degrees, the clinicians are accredited, and the supervisors have supervisory licenses.
Proper License and Program Accreditation
Coming on the heels of a properly trained staff is equally as important, a properly credentialed and licensed staff. Accreditation from external regulatory organizations such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare organizations (JCAHO; aka “the Joint Commission”), the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and the Council on Accreditation (COA) is important. If a treatment center is accredited by the Joint Commission, like BrightView’s sites are, this ensure that the facilities are staying up with expected medical and clinical guidelines and protocols. Think of this as like a restaurant continuously passing their health inspection with flying colors.
Evidence Based Treatment and Medication Assisted Treatment
Treatment centers that offer Evidence based treatment such as Medication Assisted Treatment are proven to be more successful in long term recovery than other treatment options. It is okay to do your research on this topic to understand why this is. It is okay to ask a treatment center what their “success rate” is. You’re allowed to ask how many people finish their program. If it’s high, that’s always a good sign. And if it’s low, think about another option. We’ll get to the conjoining and equally as important variable regarding success rates in the last paragraph.
Clean Facility
Let’s be honest, if you went to see your general practitioner at his or her doctor’s office, you would be a bit leery if the facility was unkempt/dirty or disorganized or falling apart. The look, feel, and cleanliness of a center is a direct indication of the work that center can do for you as a patient. BrightView prides itself in having a clean and sterile doctor’s office setting with a touch of personality in our counselor’s offices and group therapy rooms.
Aftercare Program
Although the timeline for any formal treatment duration will vary, at some point this phase of recovery will approach an end point. Ongoing recovery efforts, however, are likely and encouraged to continue. Finding a treatment program that offers personalized treatment plans for aftercare is important. You will not be in treatment FOREVER, but you will be in recovery for the rest of your life. Based on this treatment principle, the best aftercare programs will offer comprehensive services that address the individual’s:
- Relationships
- Childcare
- Housing and transportation
- Finances
- Legal involvement
This blueprint was created to help guide you or your loved one to high-quality addiction treatment, maximizing your recovery success.
