When you finally manage to make an appointment to visit a doctor, they do not fit you and the doctor does not know. They have a bad organization.
About Charleston Area Medical Center – General Hospital
Charleston Area Medical Center – General Hospital, located in Charleston, West Virginia provides inpatient and outpatient programs to individuals experiencing substance use disorders.
I like their inclusion of medically assisted treatment to assist during the critical period of detoxification. This and other interventions are facilitated through their partnership with CAMC Addiction Healing Center and other affiliated outpatient clinics.
Financial Counseling and Access to Care
The center takes a variety of insurance plans and they work with various private insurance plans. If you have Medicaid or Medicare, they can help you. I value the financial counseling they provide to ensure you can get care. Their staff will help you find a payment option that fits your needs.
Stories of Strength and Healing
Former clients of Charleston Area Medical Center have made remarks about the compassion and professionalism of their care teams. Others focused on the cleanliness of the facilities and the dedication of the addiction specialists. Overall, I’m struck by all of the reviews and stories reporting hope that was found as a result of the programs and services.
Outdoor Therapy in Downtown Charleston
The center is near Haddad Riverfront Park, a gorgeous space that is often used for walking, picnicking, and meditating. Some other great outdoor spaces are the Kanawha River and the West Virginia State Capitol Complex. I believe environments like these can have a calming effect on your mental wellness as you integrate them into your treatments and recovery journey.
Peer Coaching Near Magic Island Park
Charleston Area Medical Center offers a peer coaching program that is helpful in providing encouragement, support, and powerful referrals to local resources to aid you with practical needs. They will understand your struggles because they have lived experience themselves. Their guidance can help you stay motivated and not lose sight of your goals.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
The center partners with emergency departments and inpatient care environments to offer help detoxifying from opioids. This involves the use of safe medications like Suboxone to help mitigate cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Their bridge service provides prescriptions and medication support to get you covered during the interim between hospital discharge and outpatient appointments.
Fact checked and written by:
Elizabeth Austen
Edited by:
Courtney Myers, MS
Latest Reviews
Emergency room visit..I left one hospital that wasnt doing nothing for me,after 15 hrs in one room and with an iv and nothing in it i left. Then drove 2 hrs to C.M.A.C.wIth in 30 minutes i was in a bed getting IV for blood clots in my lungs and antibiotics for pneumonia. My Nurse, let me tell ya about my nurse!! Im pretty sure her name is KAYLEE RITCHIE in the E.R. She wasnt just a great nurse she was a good person!! Made sure ya medicine was ok,but most of all she made sure you was ok. A;ways asking if you need anything or if you was hungry,can i get you anything,,she could hold a conversation and make you feel better without medicine. She ask were did i park? I said in the street and she got worried they would tow my truck. So in 20 minutes she comes with security and gets my keys and has them park my truck in parking garage..I just wanna thank this woman,,Kaylee Ritchie for helping me get better and making me feel better about myself...Me and my wife Julie Thanks you!!
first off Id like to say your travel nurse Lindsey/Lindsay in the ER is an angel and incredibly sweet when taking care of three members of my family after a car crash, as well as the surgeon DR Crow.
second off, the rest of the staff in every other department is downright incapable of doing their job. We had to request a bed pan 4x after the nurse said shed bring one before I had to stand in the hallway and stare at the nurse until she brought one.
then the nurse told a member of my family the they could have their pain meds when ready, they proceeded to press the call light for meds and she passed her room 3x before someone had to walk into the hallway to hunt a nurse down as they were completely ignoring the patient (my family member)
then when discharged they were told home health would visit rather frequently until stable, upon their official discharge I read the papers with notes to "discharge home with family and no home health ordered".
we called to correct this and they said it was now out of their hands and unreconcilable on their end and we had to go about having a PCP order home health now.
this place is a joke and quite frankly you'd be lucky to make it out of there in one piece.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve had a few bad experience at CAMC General in the past. But I also want to be the first to say that this past Monday morning, I had one of the best experiences I’ve ever had there.
From the EMTs to the doctor and nurses, everyone was truly exceptional. Dr. Hunter was amazing (especially for an ER doctor) and made a stressful situation much easier to handle just by listening fully. The nurses I encountered from beginning to end were all wonderful. Even the travel nurses were excellent.
The nurse who cared for me at the very end, I wish I could remember her name stood out the most. She was incredibly caring, approachable, and truly understood what I was going through.
I also can’t forget the CT scan techs. When I became very sick during the scan, they were incredibly understanding and supportive, which made it less embarrassing.
That alone made a huge difference.
I know the ER can get busy and that they have many patients to care for, but the staff made sure to keep me informed every step of the way. That meant more than I can express and helped me feel at ease during a difficult time.
I hope all of them see this review. You all were amazing.
Thank you, Tonya
Rehab Score
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5.4 / 10
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Accepted Insurance
Other Forms of Payment
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.
Treatments
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.
Programs
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
Clinical Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.
Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and dysfunctional eating patterns. Many psychologists and other mental health professionals consider eating disorders to be food addictions, meaning food is being used in an addictive way (similar to drug or alcohol addiction). Certain substance abuse treatment programs will have treatment for eating disorders as one of the services offered. An eating disorder may also present as a co-occuring disorder or dual diagnosis alongside drug and alcohol addiction.
ECT is a form of treatment in which controlled electric currents are passed through the brain, sometimes causing short seizures. Treatments are done under general anesthesia. ECT appears to change brain chemistry for the better, and has been shown to provide fast and sometimes dramatic improvements in severe mental health conditions that can exist alongside addiction, including depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and suicidality. ECT is also often used by those who prefer it to taking medication.
Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a way of getting nicotine into the bloodstream without smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine to help people stop smoking. The goal of therapy is to cut down on cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), is a way of treating physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to positively affect their physical and mental health.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Staff
David L. Ramsey
President & CEO Vandalia Health
Glenn Crotty Jr., MD
President & CEO
Jeff Sandene
Executive VP & CFO
Jeff Goode
Senior VP for Ambulatory Services & Regional Hospitals
Jeff Oskin
Senior VP & COO
Chad Hovis
VP, Finance
Doug Knutson, MD
Chief Academic Officer
Shelda Martin
VP & Chief Medical Officer
Contact Information
501 Morris street
Charleston WV, 25301
Get Help Now - 304-578-5627
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