Sierra Tucson implements year-long comprehensive continuing care case management

Sierra Tucson, a treatment center for people suffering from addictions, eating disorders, mood disorders, pain management, and trauma/PTSD, has announced that it will now offer patients in its Addictions/Co-occurring Disorders Program one year of comprehensive continuing care case management through a concept called “Connections.”

Patients will enter the Connections program following residential treatment. Continuing care case management has proven to produce significantly better outcomes for patients, with data suggesting that it can increase the chance of long term recovery from 40 percent to 90 percent in the first year.

“Residential treatment is a vital first step towards lifelong recovery, but it is just the beginning,” said Stephen Fahey, MSW, MBA, Executive Director of Sierra Tucson.  “Clinical studies have shown that successful, long-term recovery is built upon the patient’s ability to engage in the recovery process and follow through with their continuing care plan.  Sierra Tucson’s Connections program helps the patient to achieve the goals they set in treatment and apply these newly acquired skills to all areas of their life.  It builds upon our foundation of clinical excellence and successfully extends the continuum of care.”

Connections will include one year of individualized support, education, and advocacy for the patient and their family with assistance in carrying out the individualized continuing care plan, an opportunity for open and honest communication with the parties directly involved in the patient’s recovery (patient, family, therapist, psychiatrist, etc.), professional and accurate laboratory testing (toxicology screening), regular progress reports to highlight patient accomplishments, individualized relapse prevention planning and utilization of relapse prevention tools, and after-hours crisis management.

“Connections empowers the patient to take control of their own recovery,” said Fahey.  “It is designed to help them successfully transition from residential treatment back to work, home, or school. The program also helps the patient’s family by relieving them of policing duties and providing professional guidance during their loved one’s first year of recovery.”

Said Fahey, “Connections inspires a change in culture, shifting the treatment process from lasting 30 or 45 days to involving an entire year of support.  It truly sets a new standard for treatment, and demonstrates Sierra Tucson’s commitment to patient care.”