Detox Referral Access Program renewed
OAK BLUFFS, MA. (January 31, 2020) – MV Community Services, MV Hospital, and Island Health Care Community Health Center recently signed an agreement with Gosnold, Inc. detox center to continue offering Vineyard residents immediate access to detox services through the Detox Referral Access Program.
Under the agreement signed on January 8, 2020, Gosnold, Inc., located in Falmouth, will continue to take immediate action to locate a detox bed for any Islander who voluntarily chooses to receive detox services and is assessed by the MV Hospital Emergency Department, MV Hospital Substance Use Disorder Team, MV Community Services Emergency Services team, or Island Health Care Community Health Center. All three agencies and the intake staff at Gosnold have established protocols to guide placement and transportation to the facilities. An average of 90 placements per year has been made since the inception of the program in January 2017.
“Continuing access to this much needed detox program is a result of collaborative efforts and innovative problem solving, and I am encouraged by the collective and continued commitment to care for Islanders in need,” said Denise Schepici, CEO of MV Hospital.
Richard Curcuru, CEO of Gosnold, agreed: “Gosnold has a long-standing affiliation with the community of Martha’s Vineyard. We are confident this program will continue to support Island residents who need immediate access to treatment and we look forward to our continued relationship.”
In addition to detox placement, the MOU states that that any patient scheduled for admission will be offered the opportunity to be accompanied from the Island to the facility by a Recovery Coach.
A Recovery Coach is a trained professional who guides and supports an individual in the recovery process and helps to prevent relapse. Coaches act as a combination counselor, sponsor, friend, and mentor to help patients develop goals, locate resources, and learn the skills necessary to live a sober and productive life. Based on a demand for additional Recovery Coaches, there will be an upcoming Recovery Coach Academy training in February.
Island access to detox services is dependent on a complex set of transactions involving ferry reservations; travel to and from terminals; and from terminals to destinations. Transportation from the Island to a mainland facility involves physically passing liquor stores, bars, and places where drugs are readily available, which increases the potential for relapse. A warm handoff from the medical provider or staff to the Recovery Coach is a critical step to ensure the accountability and continuum of care for the patient.
“This program has been an important piece of the puzzle in the coordinated continuum of care to address substance use disorders on the Island” said Julie Fay, MV Community Services Executive Director. “What’s more, we’re now able to give folks returning from detox a place to continue their path to recovery at the new Peer Recovery Support Center at the Red House with new tools and services.”
The Detox Referral Access Program is fueled by a generous anonymous donation that will enable clinicians to access transportation, short-term housing and other expenses associated with facilitating detox placement.
The creation of the program was the outcome of a suggestion made by the grassroots forum that assembled in the spring of 2016 in the wake of a series of opiate related overdoses. Aside from working on gaps such as detox, the coalition is also undertaking prevention efforts through a public health substance use social norms campaign and intervention measures through Project Outreach, a police-led substance use disorder outreach initiative.
The Detox Referral Access Program can be accessed through:
MV Hospital 24/7 Substance Use Disorder Team: 508-684-4600
MV Community Services 24/7 Emergency Services: 508-693-0032
Island Health Care Community Health Center: 508-939-9358
Pictured L to R: Beth Folcarelli, Gosnold COO; Adam Gendreau, Gosnold Patient Access Director; Michelle Lyons, Gosnold Treatment Center Director; Julie Fay, MV Community Services Executive Director; Denise Schepici, MV Hospital CEO; Allie Anderson; Gosnold CCO; Jeff Modestino; Gosnold CFO; and Richard Curcuru, Gosnold CEO.
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