Spectrum Health Systems strives to provide current, comprehensive, evidence-based addiction treatment for our clients. We rely both on our own experts to achieve this high quality of care and on third parties that conduct objective reviews according to internationally recognized standards. Following a recent onsite survey, we were thrilled to receive special recognition from one of the most well-regarded accrediting authorities, CARF International, for our specialized COVID-19 Unit.
What is CARF?
Every three years Spectrum Health Systems and the New England Recovery Center undergo a review by CARF International (previously known as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities), which is a nonprofit accreditor of health and human service providers. CARF has a rigorous set of standards for providers to ensure they are providing the best possible care for their clients, looking at everything from day-to-day clinical operations to business processes and financial planning. To be CARF-accredited is to be among the very best behavioral health providers in the world.
Knowing that a provider has been accredited by CARF can provide people struggling with addiction and their loved ones with assurance that they are going to receive top-notch care. It’s important for us to provide that security for anyone looking to begin their recovery journey at Spectrum.
Exemplary COVID-19 Unit
Following this year’s onsite accreditation review, we received special recognition – “exemplary conformance” – for the COVID-19 unit we established in response to the pandemic. This distinction is granted to providers who produce outstanding business or clinical results, or those whose innovations are worth sharing with the entire field. Our specialty unit easily met both criteria.
We established our COVID-19 unit in April of 2020 to meet the unique needs of clients that tested positive for the virus but still wanted – or needed – to enroll in inpatient treatment. As we’ve said many times during this pandemic, addiction does not stop for COVID-19. We needed to find a creative way to serve our positive-testing clients while protecting our staff and other clients, which is how the unit was first theorized. The segregated unit provides medically supervised detoxification and clinical stabilization services for up to 15 people at a time. These clients have access to all other services we provide for our other clients. We even provide the clients in isolation with iPads so that they can maintain regular communication with counselors and case managers, attend virtual meetings, and more.
“Exemplary” is precisely the word we would use to describe the work being done in this unit. It has been operational on an as-needed basis, as our communities have experienced dips and surges of COVID-19 cases. It has only been possible for us to provide this level of care because of our dedicated and talented staff that are able to adapt to a constantly changing environment.
Access to addiction treatment is essential, especially during a pandemic when so many people are experiencing additional stress and anxiety. It has not been easy to continue providing care under these circumstances, and we are incredibly proud of our staff for helping us keep our doors open, even exceeding previous standards for the level of care we provide.
You can learn more about CARF and find accredited providers near you on their website.
For more information about Spectrum Health Systems, visit www.SpectrumHealthSystems.org. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, call us today at 1-877-MyRehab and we can help you on the journey to recovery.
