Burtonsville, MD, April 14, 2020 – Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health Centers, a leading intensive outpatient program (IOP) provider offering addiction treatment in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Pennsylvania, has launched virtual services using HIPAA-secure technology. The new offering provides continuity of care for patients who are practicing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kolmac’s outpatient treatment program was developed more than 50 years ago by George Kolodner, Kolmac’s Medical Director and Chief Innovation Officer, with the goal of providing the same quality of care with the same outcomes as traditional inpatient programs, albeit with simplified access to treatment and greater program flexibility, for dramatically lower costs. Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health Centers is among the first outpatient recovery providers in the U.S. to offer safe and effective virtual treatments, including alcohol, benzodiazepine and opioid withdrawal management.
By offering accessible, virtual treatment to accommodate patients and families under quarantine, Kolmac is helping to erode the physical and mental barriers to treatment that patients often combat.
“The COVID-19 pandemic poses unique challenges for those with substance use disorders, so it was imperative that we find a way to ensure ongoing care for our patients while keeping them safe and healthy and respecting the stay-at-home orders being issued across the country. While the coronavirus pushes us to be physically distanced, Kolmac’s goal is to stay even more tightly connected and fully supportive of patients’ recovery,” said Dr. Kolodner.“Through our new telehealth program, we can virtually manage almost all of our patients living with an opioid use disorder and about 80% of those with an alcohol use disorder who would otherwise have been treated in-person at our recovery center.”
Maintaining patient privacy was among the chief concerns for the Kolmac team while swiftly transitioning to a virtual treatment model.
“We created written guidelines for running virtual groups and provided additional hands-on training for staff,” said Jen Dorsey, Kolmac’s VP of Operations and Chief Clinical Officer. Technology support was also made available to patients and staff to manage any potential issues.
Within a few days of launching the program, Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health Centers has successfully migrated nearly 85% of existing patients to the virtual model.
Kolmac’s virtual treatment experience meets the needs of patients looking for an individualized approach to addiction treatment. In addition to individual therapy, group therapy, medication assisted treatment (MAT), psychiatric services and withdrawal management are also still available and covered by insurance providers.Kolmac’s virtual withdrawal management service offers evidence-based protocols that are safe for most patients with substance use disorders, providing an effective course of treatment outside a hospital setting.
For more information about Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health Centers and virtual outpatient treatment, please visit www.kolmac.com or call (888) 331-5251 and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About Kolmac
Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health Centers is a network of intensive outpatient (IOP) addiction treatment centers in Washington D.C., Maryland and Pennsylvania. Utilizing a treatment method that was developed by George Kolodner, M.D., more than 50 years ago, the Kolmac model provides easier access to treatment, greater program flexibility and dramatically lower costs, while offering the same effectiveness as traditional inpatient programs. Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health Centers is among the first outpatient recovery providers in the U.S. to offer safe and effective virtual treatments, including detoxification, rehabilitation and continuing care. Kolmac also offers treatment for co-occurring psychiatric disorders, as well as education and resources for family members and referring professionals.
