In just a few weeks, Harrington HealthCare System will welcome comedian Paula Poundstone to Southbridge. Paula Poundstone, a legendary comedian featured on NPRs “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me,” will perform an exclusive comedy show on Saturday, April 1 at the Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center.
But the evening won’t just be about laughter – it is Harrington’s major fund raiser for 2017, with partial proceeds benefitting recovery services for the community, and it’s that mission that is getting the attention of the general public.
Substance use disorder is a health crisis that’s gripping headlines and taking young lives around the nation and south central Massachusetts is no exception
Harrington HealthCare has dedicated the last several years to creating better access for patients who need treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. The organization’s behavioral health initiative is a widespread, comprehensive, multi-year plan to offer what is most needed to the community – care that is local, accessible and safe.
“This isn’t just about hiring one more psychiatrist or opening one more building,” said Ed Moore, President and CEO of Harrington HealthCare. “It’s giving people second chances. It’s treating every aspect of a person who needs help. We are building a pathway to recovery.”
While behavioral health at Harrington has been in place for many years, the urgency to do more began in 2014 when Harrington received a $3.4 million grant from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC).
Almost immediately, the health care system created a Patient Navigation Program, which put licensed mental health clinicians and specialists in critical patient care areas, including primary care offices and emergency care centers. These individuals identify “at-risk” patients, connecting them with appropriate behavioral health services on the spot and helping them overcome barriers to care.
A portion of the HPC grant also allowed Harrington to begin construction of a 16-bed inpatient co-occurring disorders unit (CDU) in Webster. One of very few in the entire state, the CDU can treat adults with both mental health and substance use disorders simultaneously – in a dedicated, patient-centric model that includes inpatient treatment and outpatient support.
Webster now also houses second Partial Hospitalization Program, the first being on its Southbridge campus. These programs are a step down from inpatient care and can provide the patient with a structured plan to continue their journey through recovery. Coupled with intensive outpatient day programs, partnerships with the Southbridge Police Department CARE program and a variety of counseling services, Harrington has responded to the need to treat the entire patient, from initial diagnosis to their transition back into the community.
Paula Poundstone’s show on April 1 is a positive and fun way for individuals to support a need that has gotten bigger than most communities.
Tickets for Paula Poundstone’s event are on sale now: hhpaulapoundstone.eventbrite.com
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