Bravo Medical
When someone who’s addicted to opioids stops taking them, the withdrawal symptoms can push them right back into using. However, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) helps reduce the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, giving you or your loved one the ability to focus on recovery. MAT combines FDA-approved medications with behavioral and cognitive therapies bringing any underlying issues to light, as these may be contributing to the addiction. This two-fold approach of medication and therapy allows for a holistic approach and a greater chance at reaching recovery.
One of the biggest stigmas surrounding MAT is that it’s replacing one addictive drug for another. However, this just isn’t true, along with many other myths that have developed. Rather, when the medication is taken according to the doctor’s instructions, it’s just like taking medication for any other disease – and could mean the difference between someone reaching recovery and someone who relapses.
Bravo Medical offers a full range of comprehensive outpatient treatment programs and services, including:
METHADONE MAINTENANCE
Depending on the patient, methadone maintenance may be the best course of treatment. Learn more about how methadone treatment works and if it’s the right choice for you.
SUBOXONE
- Suboxone is the first opioid medication approved under DATA 2000 for the treatment of opioid dependence in an office-based setting. Suboxone can also be dispensed for take-home use, just as any other medicine for other medical conditions. The primary active ingredient in Suboxone is buprenorphine. Because buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, its opioid effects are limited compared to those produced by full opioid agonists, such as Oxycodone or heroin. Suboxone also contains naloxone, an opioid antagonist. The naloxone is there to discourage people from dissolving the tablet and injecting it. When Suboxone is placed under the tongue, as directed, very little naloxone reaches the bloodstream, so what the patient feels are the effects of the buprenorphine. However, if naloxone is injected, it can cause that person to quickly go into withdrawal.
- Suboxone at the appropriate dose may be used to:
- Suppress symptoms of opioid withdrawal
- Decrease cravings for opioids
- Reduce illicit opioid use
- Block the effects of other opioids
- Help patients stay in treatment
SCREENING
- An interview (either face-to-face or on the phone) will be conducted to complete the pre-screening form to decide appropriateness of potential admission.
- If the person has the potential for admission, he/she is given an appointment to complete the initial assessment/intake process.
- The assessment will occur face-to-face and include:
- An assessment tool that will assist in diagnosis and placement criteria
- A bio-psycho-social assessment
- Other information required by regulation and/or funding source (i.e., insurance)
- Intake assessments are performed on a walk-in and appointment basis.
- If an individual is found ineligible for services, the individual and the referring facility will be notified and offered alternative referrals for admission.
- If the individual is eligible for services, he/she will proceed through the intake process, including
- Intake physical/assessment with the doctor
- Nursing assessment
- Lab-work
- Clinical intake process
ASSESSMENT
Please note: Information collected is used in the development of individual treatment plan.
- The facility will complete an eligibility screening, which includes:
- A drug screen
- A comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessment
- Payment source to enroll in services
- The initial assessment will be completed within 48 hours and psychosocial evaluation process will be initiated within 7 days of admission.
- The bio-psycho-social will elicit:
- Medical status
- Vocational/employment and support
- Alcohol, tobacco and other drug use
- Legal status
- Family/social status
- Psychiatric status
- Co-occurring disorders history
- Behavioral risk factors for HIV and hepatitis
- All client assessments will result in:
- A DSM diagnosis for alcohol, tobacco, and other substance uses
- An identified co-occurring disorder(s)
- Documentation of level of care determination
- If the bio-psycho-social assessment indicates the client should be referred to another treatment program or level of care, the program will coordinate the client’s referral to another program and document the referral in a progress note.
- If transfer to another program or level of care is indicated, interim services at current level of care will be provided until the transfer is actualized or the individual chooses alternate care.
- A bio-psycho-social assessment will include:
- Presenting issues from the client’s perspective and documented in their words
- Medical, alcohol, tobacco, drug, and intervention history
- History of psychological and/or psychiatric treatment (including previous admissions to psychiatric facilities)
- History of suicidal/homicidal ideation and attempts
- History of psychiatric treatment and/or psychotropic medications
- Information of treatment by a psychiatrist or other licensed mental health clinician for clients diagnosed with co-occurring mental health disorders
- Family and relationships, including relationships showing co-dependency and the client’s current living situation
- Social assessment, including any legal proceedings involving the client.
- Recreational assessment, including the client’s interests and physical abilities and limitations
- Vocational and educational assessment of the client’s current work or vocational skills, employment status, and potential for improving those skills or developing new ones
- Educational status and skills
- Aptitudes, interests, and motivation
- Physical abilities and any handicaps or disabilities
- Relationships with co-workers and supervisors
- Prior and current work or school related problems, including but not limited to those related to substance abuse
- Urgent needs, including but not limited to:
- Suicide risk
- Personal safety
- Risk to others
- Personal strengths, needs, abilities/interests, and preferences
- Previous behavioral health services, including diagnostic and treatment histories
- Mental status
- Medication profile
- Medication history and current use
- Effectiveness of current or previously used medications
- Medication allergies or adverse reactions
- Health history and current health needs
- Co-occurring disorders, diagnosis and medical conditions
- Current level of functioning
- Pertinent current and historical life situation information
- Age
- Gender, sexual orientation, and gender expression
- Culture and spiritual beliefs
- Education
- Employment
- Legal involvement
- Family history
- Relationships and support network
- History of experienced and/or witnessed trauma involving abuse, neglect, violence and/or sexual assault
- Risk taking behaviors
- Literacy level
- Need for assertive devices
- Advance directives
- Psychological and social adjustment to disabilities and/or disorders
- Resultant diagnosis, if identified
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
- Includes the presentation of community education programs for community groups, organizations, businesses, and other organizations. These presentations are intended to increase public awareness of the nature of opioid addiction and the services available to treat this disease.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
- One-on-one therapy with patient and counselor.
GROUPING COUNSELING
Group counseling attempts to provide individuals a safe and comfortable place where they can work out problems and emotional issues. Patients gain insight into their own thoughts and behavior, and offer suggestions and support to others. In addition, patients who have a difficult time with interpersonal relationships can benefit from the social interactions that are a basic part of the group counseling experience.
Groups:
- Provide positive peer support and pressure to abstain from substances of abuse.
- Reduce the sense of isolation that most people who have substance abuse disorders experience.
- Enable people who abuse substances to witness the recovery of others.
- Help members learn to cope with their substance abuse and other problems by allowing them to see how others deal with similar problems.
- Offer family-like experiences. Groups can provide the support and nurturance that may have been lacking in group members’ families of origin.
- Encourage, coach, support, and reinforce as members undertake difficult or anxiety-provoking tasks.
- Offer members the opportunity to learn or relearn the social skills they need to cope with everyday life instead or resorting to substance use. Group members can learn by observing others, being coached by others, and practicing skills in a safe and supportive environment.
- Allow a single treatment professional to help a number of patients at the same time.
- Can add needed structure and discipline to the lives of people with substance abuse disorders, who often enter treatment with their lives in chaos. Groups instill hope, a sense that “if he can make it, so can I”. Process groups can expand this hope to dealing with the full range of what people encounter, overcome or cope with in their lives.
CASE MANAGEMENT/SERVICES COORDINATED
- Provide goal-oriented and individualized supports focusing on improved self-sufficiency for the patients through:
- Assessment
- Planning
- Linkages
- Advocacy
- Coordination
- Monitoring activities
- Successful service coordinator results in community opportunities and increase independence for the individual/patient
INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
- Clinically-intensive treatment services 3 days a week for a total of 9 hours, including patients and their families receiving:
- Education and information regarding symptoms, effects, and treatment of mental illness, medications, substance abuse, co-dependency, and its effect on substance abuse treatment the implementation of self-care rehabilitation (such as Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Alateen), and community agencies/resources available during treatment services.
- Services provide individual and group substance abuse counseling, education on the health consequences of substance abuse and dependence, and relapse prevention.
- Specialized services such as life skills, job placement, resume writing, vocational topics, and anger management.
- Psychiatric services and medication monitoring provided for patients who have been diagnosed with co-occurring disorders or need psychiatric intervention and assessment.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
- Each patient is seen by the Medical Director or other licensed practitioner before admission to assess the individual using ASAM criteria, make a proper DSM IV diagnosis, perform a physical and history examination, and develop appropriate medical orders for induction care.
HIV ASSESSMENT
- A licensed nurse will compile a nursing history, which includes assessing risk factors for STDs, HIV, and HVC
SHORT/LONG TERM DETOXIFICATIONS (90 to 180 days)
- Detoxification is hereby being defined as the process of assisting an individuals’ gradual metabolic clearance of a substance by means of pharmacological replacement with applicable and adjunctive treatment. This process will be conducted in such a manner as to minimize physical and psychological risk and discomfort to the patient and to thereby ultimately eliminate their dependence on those unhealthy and/or undesired substances while attempting to lessen the psychophysical discomfort in this process.
- This will be accomplished through the medically-supervised cessation of all opioid (or other substances) intake by the patient and replaced by an alternatively prescribed opioid medication. During opioid detox, Methadone, a long-acting opioid medication will be administered in place of the opioid substance(s) currently being taken. This mediciation will be tapered/diminished over the clinically appropriate time frame. Detox will be available as a specialized program, independent of the medically-supervised tapering (withdrawal) that accompanies a patient’s separation from an opiate maintenance program, whether it’s voluntary or administrative in nature.
Programs
Medication Dispensing Hours:
Monday through Friday
5:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Saturday
6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Sunday
Closed
Counseling Hours:
Monday through Friday
5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday
6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Sunday
Closed
Bravo Medical Team
Rollover each picture to learn more about your team.
Tap each picture to learn more about your team.
Melissa Bishop, Corporate MAT Division Director
Melissa Bishop brings nearly 20 years of experience and expertise to Recovery Centers of America. She completed her Master of Business Administration at Wilmington University and went on to participate in many committee memberships, such as Health & Safety, Policy Management & Forms Development, Clinical Care/Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, Patient Retention, Emergency Preparedness, and more.
Melissa has been a part of many different facets while at RCA, including developing the strategic plan that led to the development and expansion of RCA’s MAT programs. While overseeing all aspects of all MAT facilities, her key operational and general management qualifications include marketing planning and development, site selection, design construction, and renovations, quality assurance and customer service/retention, crisis management and organizational restructuring, budgeting, cost control and profit optimization, and strategic, operational, and financial business planning.
Michael S. DeShields, MD, Medical Director
Dr. DeShields is a graduate of the Temple University School of Medicine. An Internist, Dr. DeShields has specialized in addiction medicine for more than 36 years. Dr. Deshields has a practice in Blackwood, NJ, and is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the American Board of Addiction Medicine.
He has served as the Medical Director for Delaware Valley Medical, Camden County Health Services, Camden County Department of Health & Human Services, Kennedy Health Systems Methadone Clinic, Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Treatment, as well as Recovery Services of NJ.
The current Medical Director and Executive Director of RecoveryCare Medical Associates and an adjunct faculty member of UMDNJ-SOM, Dr. DeShields lectures both nationally and locally on the topics of alcohol and opioid dependence.
Angela Saliba, Executive Director
See Why Our Team Members Do What They Do
Why I Do What I Do
RCA Supports MAT
On Thursday, February 28, Trenton Healthcare Clinical celebrated our Medication-Assisted Treatment site in Trenton, NJ. Check out these videos from the event, which include speeches from Medical Director Dr. Michael DeShields and RCA’s CEO Brian O’Neill.
Insurance Information
Bravo Medical has partnered with New Jersey Medicaid to make treatment affordable and accessible. We also accept self-pay.
Facility Info
Bravo Medical
10 Somerdale Square
1200 South White Horse Pike
Somerdale, NJ 08083
Phone
1-800-RECOVERY
Same day admissions and walk-ins are welcome.
If you need more information about our methadone treatment services, we’re here to help. Call us at 1-800-RECOVERY.
Hours of Operation
Medication Dispensing Hours:
Monday through Friday
5:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Saturday
6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Sunday
Closed
Counseling Hours:
Monday through Friday
5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday
6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Sunday
Closed
Directions from the North:
Directions from South:
Direction from East:
Direction from West (Philadelphia):
Lindenwold PATCO station is the best landmark to use when locating our facility.
We are in the same Plaza as University Dental.
