HARRINGTON RECOVERY SERVICES AT WEBSTER
What is Harrington’s Behavioral Health Initiative?
Our initiative tackles what has become a healthcare crisis in the community, state, and country.
To address the critical and acute need in central Massachusetts for increased access to mental health and substance use disorder services, Harrington has embarked on a project at the Webster campus to construct an 8,222-square-foot inpatient Co-occurring Disorders Unit (CDU), by reconfiguring space occupied by a former medical surgical unit. The unit will provide a secure, local, acute care environment to ensure that mental health and substance abuse disorders can be treated, and patients can be stabilized, avoiding crisis situations or further escalation of the conditions. The unit will add 16 beds within Harrington’s southern Worcester County coverage area, which, like many other areas of the state, suffers from a lack of inpatient psychiatric services and substance abuse services.
A new Co-occurring Disorders Partial Hospital Program (an intensive, structured, medically monitored outpatient program for those stepping down from CDU or as a resource for those who require a high level of care but do not meet inpatient criteria) will be available, along with new outpatient counseling and psychiatric services, on the same floor as the CDU.
Does Harrington currently offer inpatient psychiatric services?
Currently, one 14-bed unit at the Southbridge campus is the only inpatient psychiatric center in the region. The closest facilities are in Worcester, and frequently those beds are filled. This unit currently is unable to adequately provide services to patients with both psychiatric and substance use disorders.
What makes the new CDU unique?
The facility will be the first inpatient unit in central and western Massachusetts to offer treatment for patients with both psychiatric and substance use disorders. Recent research has shown that up to 70% of individuals with substance use disorders also suffer from mental illness, and that these conditions must be addressed at the same time for treatment to be effective.
Who benefits from the initiative?
Those 18 years or older, with a primary psychiatric diagnosis and substance use disorder.
What services does Harrington already offer for patients with behavioral health issues?
Behavioral Health Services provides comprehensive, personalized, compassionate care close to home. Expert diagnosis and clinical treatment is offered for a full range of mental health and substance abuse problems with multiple types and levels of care throughout the region. Many therapists are bilingual and bi-cultural, allowing patients to find someone who best fits their needs. Services include Inpatient Psychiatric Care, structured day programs, Outpatient Services and Emergency Psychiatric Services for adults, children and families.
What services does Harrington already offer for patients with a substance use disorders?
Harrington has some of the most effective programs in the region, providing a continuum of care with treatment specific to both the type and level of need of the individual or family. These services include substance abuse treatment, Suboxone and Vivitrol clinics, an intensive outpatient program for adults with substance use disorders, and partial hospitalization program for those with psychiatric disorders. Outpatient Substance Abuse Services strengthened its partnership with the local district courts to create a region-wide system of Drug Courts in order to provide treatment to those whose addiction has resulted in legal involvement and to reduce incarceration. Harrington has also developed the Community Assisted Recovery for Everyone (CARE) program with the Southbridge Police Department which allows any resident to enter the police station and request assistance for treatment, day or night, and relinquish any narcotics voluntarily without fear of arrest. These individuals are assessed by Harrington’s mobile Psychiatric Emergency Services program and linked to appropriate treatment. Finally, through the CHART grant Harrington has been able to integrate behavioral health clinicians into Primary Care physician offices as well as throughout the hospital to help identify, assess and provide treatment to those with both substance abuse and mental health needs.
Harrington has opened seven outpatient mental health and/or substance abuse clinics in Southbridge and neighboring towns. Patient visits increased significantly, verifying the need for mental health and substance abuse treatment in Harrington's service area.
How much will it cost to create the Webster CDU?
Design and construction of the new CDU is currently expected to cost $3.2 million.
How is the new CDU being financed?
Almost fifty-percent of the project cost has been secured via a grant from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission’s Community Hospital Acceleration, Revitalization, & Transformation investment program (“CHART”) Phase II. CHART makes phased investments in state community hospitals to enhance the delivery of efficient, effective care. In October 2014, Harrington received approval of a CHART grant award of $3.5 million, of which $1.4 million is designated for construction of the CDU project. The remaining $1.8 million to complete the project is being procured through fundraising. To date, $225,000 in commitments has been received from local financial institutions and foundations. Over $41,000 was raised from two community 5K events and $200,000 from last May’s Fare to Remember gala – leaving us with a remaining fundraising target of $1.3 million.
What is the timeline for completing the initiative?
· Occupancy is expected to occur in late December or early 201, depending upon procurement of required approvals, licensures and permits.
What may potential donors want to know about Harrington’s history and its purpose?
Harrington is a comprehensive regional healthcare system anchored by Harrington Memorial Hospital located at 100 South Street, Southbridge, Massachusetts. It is the primary medical and behavioral healthcare provider in its service area, which is approximately 350 square miles, covering nineteen communities in south central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut.
Harrington Memorial Hospital Inc. was founded on October 18, 1928 and opened on September 7, 1931. Harrington is a Joint Commissionaccredited 501(c)(3) corporation. For eighty five years, Harrington has remained steadfast in its mission to provide high-quality, comprehensive, medical services in a safe environment, near home, in a cost-efficient and cost-effective manner.
An essential component of the continued growth and success of the mission has been a commitment to “Total Local Care”, the delivery of an array of healthcare services to towns and communities throughout the region. Through a network of multiple campuses and physician satellite offices, Harrington has developed and maintained a vital relationship to each community, and has succeeded in tailoring services based on the unique needs of each area.
Who does Harrington serve and how do residents compare to the rest of the state?
Harrington’s catchment area contains an estimated 150,000 residents. Median household income is $61,906, less than the statewide level of $65,981, and area residents attain lower levels of education (46.3% of residents with only a high school diploma or less as compared to 37.4% statewide). The area suffers significantly from a higher unemployment rate (8% compared to 6.9 % statewide). (Source: 2014 Community Health Needs Assessment by The Institute for Community Health).
100 South Street, Southbridge, MA 01550
www.harringtonhospital.org