What Exactly is Individualized Care?
Unfortunately/fortunately addiction treatment is big business. What do I mean by that? The positive of addiction treatment being big business is a major increase in addiction treatment centers leading to more access to care. Also, there are more pathways to treatment as well as innovation. The negative to addiction treatment being big business is the increase in bad actors motivated by the dollar. These bad actors are heavily motivated by the bottom line rather than client success. With this motivation they lack the best form of marketing and client draw they could possibly have, a good reputation and positive word of mouth. How do you spot these bad actors? Push them to explain what individualized care is.
A quick Google search renders the following definition of individualized care:
“..each resident's conditions, abilities, needs, routines, and goals are unique, requiring a plan of care (road map for care) that reflects who this individual is.”
Chances are if you ask a treatment center what individualized care is, you will get a regurgitated version of this definition. I implore you to go further. Ask how they provide this individualized care. What are some recent examples of how they met someone’s specific needs? How have they been able to creatively part from the cookie cutter version treatment plaguing the addiction field.
The problem with providing true individualized care is that it takes time and effort. Using time and effort toward individualized care is only a problem if your main motivation is for the dollar. Time and effort on a single individual who has specific needs does not equal more money. Maxing out group sizes does not promote individualized care, instead it takes time and attention and divides it, which in turn decreases positive outcomes.
I have been blessed to be able to work with both good and bad actors in the realm of addiction treatment. I have watched treatment centers do some incredible things and go to great lengths to meet individual needs. I have also watched treatment centers buy referrals (which is illegal) and stuff residents into rooms to make more money. For that 1 lead that was bought, who was made to feel uncomfortable and uncared for, they will tell multiple people about their bad experience. For the person who watched their treatment team show up for them in a positive way, who felt cared for, they will tell multiple others how good their experience was and will drive more referrals. This is the lesson that is missed by bad actors.
As a start, look for these five signs to check and see if a treatment centers motives are in line with good care:
1. Small Group Size
2. Real Examples of Individualized Care
3. Flexibility in schedule to meet your needs
4. Real pictures on their website instead of stock images
5. Multiple paths to recovery (counseling, medication, 12-step, etc)
6. Ask 5 local people with a year or more sober about their experience with this center
By Travis Watson LPC, ALPS, SAP, MAC