Pine Rest Hospital in Grand Rapids launches new program for individuals with addictive disorders

By Sharon Hanks

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Hospital has launched a new residential treatment program for those suffering from addictive disorders along with post-traumatic stress disorders. One of a very few of its kind in the country, the 90-day program was introduced after research discovered the typical 30-day treatment was not a sufficient foundation for these individuals to result in a solid recovery, hospital officials say.

Residents in the new program called Clearwood will stay at the former campus-like St. Joseph's Seminary property now called Kingdom Square at 670 Burton St. SE in Grand Rapids. The 12-step recovery program has the capacity to care for 20 residents.

"We're confident that this week or next, we'll start to see some individuals come in for treatment," says Al Jansen, the hospital's corporate director of community and residential services. "Our program has a lot to offer using treatments that have been proven in other settings."

The program was developed in consultation with renowned psychologist Don Meichenbaum, Ph.D. of Florida.

Cost for individuals admitted into the 90-day Clearwood treatment is $40,000. Most insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, do not typically cover this type of treatment, Jansen says, so individuals cover the out-of-pocket expense to attend. Residents are cared for by a multi-disciplinary team of highly trained staff, including physicians, psychologists, masters level trauma therapists, family therapists, nurses, an activity coordinator and clinical coordinators.

Kingdom Square, once owned by the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, offers residents their own bedroom, each with its own bathroom. "It was really remodeled nicely and the grounds are very peaceful," says Jansen about the property the hospital is leasing.

The Grand Rapids-based hospital is one of the five largest free-standing behavioral health providers in the United States, with 20 outpatient locations throughout West Michigan and two in Iowa.

Sources: Al Jansen, corporate director of community and residential services at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids; Colleen Cullison, Communications Manager at Pine Rest Hospital in Grand Rapids

Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at [email protected]. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.