WABASH, IND. – Sept. 27, 2023 – Sometimes, a little more elbow room can make a big difference. That’s why construction took place this summer in the Medical Office Building adjoining Parkview Wabash Hospital.
The MAT/IOP clinic, home to Parkview Behavioral Health Institute (PBHI) services for people recovering from substance use disorder, has expanded thanks to funding from the Parkview Wabash Foundation. It was already a very busy place, providing medication-assisted treatment (MAT), intensive outpatient program (IOP) therapy, case management and other services for an average of 50 – 75 people on any given day.
Mental health services at the 1,155-square-foot clinic at Parkview Wabash have grown rapidly since 2020 to address significant community needs exacerbated by stresses from the COVID-19 pandemic, economy and other influences. As more people have referred themselves for help – or been referred by the courts, the hospital’s detox program, a recovery home, or agencies in Wabash and neighboring counties – the demand for services eclipsed the available space.
“As our region is coming to terms with the substance use crisis, the good news is that more people are seeking help and want to make meaningful changes in their lives,” said Dr. Ahsan Mahmood of Parkview Physicians Group – Psychiatry, chief medical officer for PBHI. “This presents us with a challenge, and we are enhancing our existing resources to be able to help more people along the path toward recovery.”
The now-complete expansion will enable the staff to shorten or eliminate wait times and admit more people who need these specialized services. The project has added another 657 square feet, expanding the clinic by half its initial size to create a second group meeting room and two more consultation rooms.
“We are so grateful to be able to grow our clinic to accommodate more patients,” said Deb Potempa, market president, Parkview Health Southwest. “The Foundation recognizes that mental health is a high priority and investing in helping more people succeed in overcoming addiction will benefit not only individuals, but also families and communities in and well beyond Wabash County.”
Healing and regaining a zest for life
Three-hour group therapy meetings – three times a week – are the cornerstone of the intensive outpatient program (IOP), and groups meet at various times of the day and the evening. The intensity and frequency of that therapy – combined with additional services such as individual, family and couples therapy – allows participants to focus and jump-start their recovery.
“We really get to know them and help them discover and practice new ways of being,” said Joel Makin, manager of substance use outpatient treatment, who supervises the clinic. “Our approach is more than behavioral; it’s relational. It’s about how they think of themselves and relate to other people and the world. We help them work toward their goal of having the abilities to meet the demands of reality.”
“They work through failures, losses, ruptured relationships, and even details such as identifying what they do or don’t enjoy,” he continued. “A substance use disorder can drain someone of the ability to enjoy certain aspects of life, and many of our patients are trying to regain that ability. We help them figure out what needs to be put into place, or worked through, to solidify the change they want, so they can go beyond just existing from one day to the next and have a zest for life.”
Makin acknowledges that nine hours a week of group therapy is a significant commitment, but for someone who has grappled with the destructive, long-term effects of substance use or other serious mental health issues, it’s well worth the investment of time and energy.
“With our combination of intensive outpatient services, patients are able to hit their 30-, 60- and 90-day milestones of recovery,” he said. “These are often the most difficult milestones to hit. They can take years to achieve in traditional, less frequent, less intensive therapy programs. And if a person needs the more elevated, consistent, focused level of services provided by our IOP but is trying to make lasting changes in the context of less intensive treatment, they can often go for a while but then fall away, relapse, and then have to start again. They may go through that cycle multiple times. Or they go into a residential treatment program and then get step-down services but end up repeating the cycle.”
“Our IOP is designed to meet the American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria used to assess what services will best support someone through recovery,” he continued. “And our program can assist those who have already completed a residential treatment program and wish to transition back to their community but still need a heightened level of structure and support to maintain their progress.”
Makin explained that the local IOP gives Wabash County residents the option to stay in their community, surrounded by the resources they will need for long-term recovery and success, rather than traveling outside the county for treatment.
In fact, residents of neighboring counties – Grant, Miami, Kosciusko, Huntington and Cass – have chosen to come to Wabash for the quality and benefits of this IOP. Many tell the staff they find it advantageous to come to a hospital setting for outpatient treatment, since the reason for their visit is not readily apparent to others.
What does Makin tell people who say they’ve tried therapy or another program, but it hasn’t worked for them?
“I tell them our IOP is next-level,” he said enthusiastically. “With traditional outpatient therapy – which is less intensive and less frequent – you can linger for years seeing a therapist or meeting with a group and trying to get the experience you need to make changes you want. Our IOP gives you plenty of support and frequency to help you make quick, lasting change. And you’ll do such intensive work and hit such a deep level of retraining your emotional responses that after you’re done, you’ll be ready to keep on growing.”
Putting more pieces into place for sustainable recovery
In addition to the IOP, many patients also need medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to overcome substance use. Two medical providers manage that MAT component for patients through the clinic. They also refer patients to Parkview Wabash Health Clinic family medicine practitioners for treatment of any other medical issues that may need to be addressed to help the patients regain better overall health.
Once a patient has taken on the challenging work of self-rediscovery in IOP, they are referred into traditional-level outpatient services at the clinic and begin a supportive “step-down” process that keeps them progressing. These services include individual counseling, family or couples therapy and less intensive group therapy. Three counselors facilitate these services, as well as the IOP sessions, and a case manager provides further support and accountability for patients. In addition, several grants this year have enabled the clinic to begin offering extra help for patients in the areas of nutrition, fitness and transportation.
For more information about the MAT/IOP clinic at Parkview Wabash Hospital, call 260-569-2234. Most insurance types are accepted for treatment through the clinic, and financial assistance is available. The clinic is located inside the Medical Office Building at 8 John Kissinger Drive, just off U.S. 24 in Wabash.