HSHS St. John’s Hospital is partnering with the Gateway Foundation in an effort to create a more effective response for hospital patients who are dealing with substance abuse disorder.
Hospital officials say they are seeing more cases of patients in the emergency room or needing treatment elsewhere in the hospital who are dealing with the effects of substance abuse. The new partnership establishes a team, including a certified addictions counselor, to screen patients who may be in need of addiction treatment and to refer them to appropriate facilities for care.
The team also includes a staff member with “lived experiences” with substance abuse to help patients develop coping skills and find a path to a stable long-term recovery.
