Montana Hospital Takes New Approach to Fighting Addiction

Community Medical Center in Missoula is launching the state's first hospital-based "detox" facility, which is designed to not only treat people suffering from substance abuse, but also help set them on an extended path of sobriety.

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StepOne Service, a collaboration between CMC and Healthcare Partners, began operating in July, offering an inpatient, 3-to-5-day withdrawal management program.

It also incorporates a long-term follow-up over the next several months to help people break their dependency on alcohol or opioids.

Filling a need in addiction recovery

Mary Parish, Program Manager for the Missoula Police Crisis Intervention Team, says StepOne will fill a serious gap in existing care options.

"A place in space like StepOne is one of those that's by it coming on board and online is it's helping complete the continuum of care," Parish explained during last week's announcement.

"And importantly, it's going to help reduce the number of EMS calls related to alcohol or substance use disorder. It could help reduce the burden on the emergency departments, and it could also help reduce the burden on the criminal justice system."

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Patients committed to change

Community Medical Center Service Coordinator Shanon McDonald explained patients are only submitted after extensive screening and a declaration of commitment to the treatment.

"Their medical history, their substance use history," McDonald said. "We're looking for what they want to do and what they want to engage in for discharge, with that by engaging their level of commitment to stay the 3 to 5 days in the hospital, as well as work with StepOne in the months following.

Program managers will work with patients to identify insurance resources to cover program costs and treatment.

Dennis Bragg photo

      Program managers note there are 70,000 Montanans living with a substance abuse disorder.