For more than 40 years Project Turnabout has been facilitating patient admissions for addiction recovery services.  During the last year we engaged in a quality improvement initiative to enhance our services to meet the growing needs of our patients, families and referents for admissions.  This initiative lead us to the expansion and changes in admissions and discharges processes.  

Marti Paulson, Director of Health and Intake Services facilitated a wrap-around approach towards achieving a successful and functional restructure of Project Turnabout’s Admissions Department. This approach included input and suggestions from the Project Turnabout Leadership Team, licensed counselors, referents, patients and family members.

“Our main goal was to find a way to surpass the expectations and needs of the patients, families and referents,” Marti said. “This new style to the department really achieves that goal and furthers our ability to accomplish our focus of serving the patient the best we possibly can.”

The new restructure of the Admissions Department included incorporating new visions and the enhancement of the current services that were already provided. These include:

• Restructuring the admissions process to include a comprehensive long-term plan from the point of intake; including the foresight for possible discharge options to be discussed with the multi-disciplinary team during the patients weekly individualized treatment planning.

• Adding to the admissions counselor staff.

• Expanding our services to include admissions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Streamlining the transfer and/or discharge process if for any reason the patient for personal, medical, mental or physical reasons cannot remain in our facility.

• Increasing available time for the primary addiction recovery counselor to focus on patient needs and treatment services by reducing the amount of time needed for discharge planning.

• Performing courtesy Rule 25 assessments for counties.

• Performing all admissions for the Vanguard Center for Compulsive Gambling

• Performing scheduled evaluations for employers, health care professional services, and private needs or desires.

“It is important to understand that all changes were constructed to strengthen our continuum of care for our patients. We want to provide the best service possible from pre-intake to discharge and beyond,” said Marti. 

Marti continued to express her satisfaction towards the enhancement of Project Turnabout’s admissions and discharge process.  By removing barriers and enhancing the quality of the admissions process, patients are given the opportunity for a successful recovery.   “Someone is available to assist with admissions questions and calls around the clock every day. We welcome all calls and find that in most cases, instances that keep patients from receiving necessary treatment are artificial barriers we can easily overcome together.”

Project Turnabout’s Admissions Department is comprised of the Director of Health and Intake Services and three full-time Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. Together, the team offers a combined total of more than 40 years of addiction treatment experience. The department also works closely with the Nursing and Psychological Departments to ensure that Project Turnabout is an appropriate match for each patient’s individual needs.

Email the Admissions Department:  admissions@projectturnabout.org