07 Apr New Method Wellness Offers Incidental Medical Services (IMS)
New Method Wellness provides Incidental Medical Services (IMS) that address medical issues associated with detoxification and/or the provision of treatment from substance misuse. The goal of IMS is to enhance the safety of treatment services and provide medical care related to the individual’s long-term recovery. Incidental Medical Services (IMS) allows us to employ quality medical staff and offer a wider breadth of medical services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Incidental Medical Services (IMS) does not provide general primary medical care. IMS is a new supplemental service under our current Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) license.
Offering Incidental Medical Services (IMS) allows us to:
Obtain Medical Histories
Timely and comprehensive assessment is necessary to offer quality care and a safe environment. During the admission process we will be obtaining our resident’s Health Care Questionnaire face-to-face which will be reviewed and signed off on by a physician or health care practitioner (HCP) within 24-hours of admission. A physician or HCP will also be completing, signing and dating the Incidental Medical Services (IMS) Certification Form face-to-face. This process is imperative to provide detoxification and residential treatment.
Monitor health status
Monitor health status to determine whether the health status warrants transfer of the resident in order to receive urgent or emergent care.
At the time of admission, an assessment will be conducted by a physician or HCP to determine if the resident is appropriate for care. Each individual will be closely observed and physically checked, including vitals, at least every 30 minutes for the first 36 hours, and three times daily for the entirety of their enrollment. While in detox protocol, residents will be assessed daily by following COWS or CIWA protocol as warranted. If a resident shows signs of detoxification withdrawal beyond our scope, we will arrange for a referral and/or transportation for the individual to receive medical care.
Administer tests associated with detoxification from alcohol or drugs
A variety of testing services under the discretion of the administrative team, physician and/or health care practitioner will be utilized to effectively treat and monitor detoxification services. Testing includes toxicology via urine drug screens, blood alcohol content via breathalyzer and laboratory analysis as deemed necessary and appropriate.
Provide alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment services
Alcohol and drug misuse recovery and treatment services will be provided. Residents shall be adequately evaluated by a health care practitioner within 24 hours of admission and offered pharmaceutical interventions for behavioral health and substance misuse conditions based on internal medicine, psychiatric medicine, and addiction medicine’s best practices.
Oversee patients self-administering medications
It is our policy that all residents who are in need of prescribed medication from a physician have the right to take such prescriptions to the point that it does not impair their ability to function in the milieu, or conflict with our abstinence policy. It is New Method Wellness’s philosophy that medications with a potential for abuse including opiates, sedative/hypnotic/anxiolytic medications (including sleep medications with benzodiazepine components), stimulants, medical marijuana, and muscle relaxants are contraindicated for individuals with substance use disorders. All residents who are in need of prescription or over the counter medication have the right to self-administer such medications to the point that it is not considered adverse.
Treat substance abuse disorders, including detoxification
Treating substance use disorders, including detoxification, is a multidimensional process requiring interdisciplinary coordination. New Method Wellness’s health care practitioners aim to work with the resident’s primary care physician or any external providers to coordinate care as relevant to any complex conditions that may impact the resident’s success in treatment. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is allowable and encouraged in residential level of care. Among the most commonly used medications in drug and alcohol treatment are Librium, Buprenorphine and Naloxone (Suboxone), Naltrexone (oral and IM), Acamprosate, and Disulfiram. New Method Wellness is not a maintenance program.
Incidental Medical Services (IMS) will be provided by, or under the supervision of, one or more physicians licensed by the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board who are knowledgeable about addiction medicine. Additionally, services can be provided by other health care practitioners acting within the scope of practice of his or her license and under the direction of a physician.
For more information about New Method Wellness, take a tour or call 866.951.1824