Recovery is a lifelong journey.
To us, treatment isn’t just about getting clean and sober — it’s about rediscovering life and solidifying our patients’ identity in recovery. We believe each patient’s treatment should prepare them and their loved ones for a hopeful and healthy future. At Black Bear Lodge, we take this seriously and continually stand apart from other treatment centers.
Our facility is part of the Foundations Recovery Network family of treatment centers, and we offer patients and their families FRN’s evidence-based, time-tested methods of treatment. The FRN System of Care puts the patient at the center of treatment and was developed following federal guidelines for co-occurring treatment, evidence-based treatment methods and our own internal research.
Black Bear Lodge consistently and significantly exceeds historical industry recovery rates, as demonstrated in our research results compared to National Institute of Drug Abuse publications (White, 2012). Our integrated treatment combines mental health and addiction treatment methods to address each patient’s needs to ensure recovery starts with us but doesn’t stop after they leave our facility.
Our Integrated Treatment Model
We are known for treating co-occurring disorders, consisting of both addiction and mental health concerns. This can include conditions such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others in addition to a drug or alcohol addiction. This is also known as a dual diagnosis, but many treatment centers are only capable of addressing either an addiction or a mental health issue — not both in the same setting. At Black Bear Lodge, we employ integrated treatment methods, which are specifically designed to tackle co-occurring disorders, by combining mental health and substance abuse treatments with all health professionals collaborating in one setting. Because our services are integrated to treat both conditions, we can give patients the best chance at long-term recovery.
Research shows that patients who receive integrated treatment have more than twice the rate of success in achieving sobriety one-year post-treatment than those who attend traditional programs, according to the national average for sobriety rates (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2005). Black Bear Lodge meets and exceeds the standard outcomes of integrated treatment, and we have allowed our patient outcomes to shape the entire patient experience and journey.
Our Relational Philosophy.
We partner with patients in their own recovery using a process called Motivational Interviewing. Patients get to set their own goals and our treatment teams work to help them achieve those goals.
We believe that lifetime relationships foster long-term recovery, and we meet patients where they are with an attitude of acceptance and nonjudgment. We build the foundation for a patient’s recovery, and he or she is equipped with the tools to build his or her new life.
Our Research.
We focus on the body of information from the treatment industry as a whole as well as our own research outcomes, and we use both to inform our methods. We are continually working to find the most proven treatment methods and the most innovative approaches available in order to provide patients with high-quality, effective treatment.
FRN has an internal research department, which assesses treatment effectiveness, fidelity and the rate of abstinence post-treatment. As part of our research, patients are contacted at 30 days, six months and one-year post-discharge. This allows us to determine not only the immediate impact of treatment but also the sustainability of results. It also allows us to engage in a continuum of care post-treatment. Every piece of data is used to develop credible outcomes and to improve upon our unique System of Care and its four core components: Patient-Centered Care, Integrated Treatment, Outcomes-Informed Treatment, and Standardized Program Elements.
Our research department and activities are reviewed by an independent institutional review board and approved and registered by the Department of Health and Human services. We are also LegitScript and NAATP certified. These organizations vet and rigorously monitor healthcare providers, like ourselves, and hold us to the highest industry standards, which we gladly meet and exceed. Our hardworking and caring staff are behind this accreditation and are ready to help unravel the complexities that come along with the recovery process. For more details on our research, refer to https://www.foundationsrecoverynetwork.com/about-us/faq/.
Black Bear 2017 Treatment Outcomes
Remission Symptoms
In 2017, we surveyed 60 percent of Black Bear Lodge patients one year after treatment, and 81.7 percent reported few to no symptoms associated with a diagnosis of substance use disorder, based on the definition in the diagnostic manual, DSM-IVTR. The national average for one year post-treatment remission is 50 percent. This means that these patients are in remission and are no longer experiencing the symptoms of an active addiction. The journey of addiction treatment is lifelong, but those in remission experience a significant decrease in cravings and have a stronger sense of control.
Patient Loyalty
At discharge, patients were asked to rate their experience at Black Bear Lodge. Nearly 90 percent of patients report that they would recommend Black Bear Lodge, based on a survey of 87 percent of all patients in 2017.
In research studies, loyalty represents the likelihood that a patient would recommend a particular treatment center to family, friends and loved ones.
Post-Treatment Symptoms
With a 60 percent response rate, Black Bear Lodge patients reported significant improvement at one year post treatment in the following areas: substance use, medical problems, family relationships and psychological symptoms. More patients than ever report remaining abstinent from alcohol and substances overall following treatment at Black Bear Lodge.
Admissions Experience
Ninety-six percent of patients rated their admission experience as good or better.
With a 91 percent survey completion rate, 96 percent of patients at Black Bear Lodge rated their admission experience as good or better.
The admissions process at Black Bear Lodge begins with a phone call to one of our admissions coordinators. A professional and knowledgeable staff person will listen to the caller’s concerns, answer questions in detail about a potential patient’s needs and determine whether or not our facilities would be a good fit. They will also offer an alternative facility option if the patient needs treatment but cannot attend one of our facilities. Following that initial call, the potential patient will complete an initial assessment to determine their specific treatment needs. The admissions coordinator will also check the person’s insurance, if applicable, and determine potential out-of-pocket costs. They will then go over coverage with the potential patient, and if they wish to go forward with treatment, the admissions coordinator will help to organize their travel to the facility.
Our research department and activities are reviewed by an independent institutional review board, approved and registered by the Department of Health and Human Services. For more details, refer to https://www.foundationsrecoverynetwork.com/about-us/faq/.
What makes Black Bear Lodge different?
Black Bear Lodge’s outcomes in treating individuals with co-occurring disorders and preparing them for lifelong recovery speak loud and clear. Our philosophies demonstrate our commitment to patient-centered care by upholding the belief that everyone has the ability to recover in a nonjudgmental environment. We strive to motivate our patients through recovery and walk alongside them in this lifelong journey. We don’t tell our patients what successful recovery means. “Success” is defined by each patient and their family, however they choose to measure it.
Our patient outcomes are collected from patient surveys and research and consistently reveal that we deliver high-quality care to each of our patients and their loved ones. Patients also report high satisfaction with our quality of care, which involves the most effective treatment administered by our caring staff, who are always available to address specific patient needs.
Our promise to our patients is that they will remain the center of our program, and we will uphold our ethical commitments in everything we do. We continue to demonstrate this by listening to our patient needs and revisiting our methods, so each patient gets the most effective treatment available.
If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about treatment at Black Bear Lodge or any of our other FRN facilities, call us today at 706-914-2327 to find out more about who we are and how we can help you.
Data taken from: NAADAC.org: Remission from Substance Abuse Disorders (pdf)