ABOUT AEGIS TREATMENT CENTERS, LLC. – ATASCADERO
Aegis Treatment Centers, LLC, located in Los Angeles operates 25 outpatient opiate addiction treatment clinics throughout California. All facilities, including this one in Atascadero, offer medicated-assisted treatment (MAT) programs of various lengths. Aside from being one of the over 1,000 outpatient facilities in California, according to its website, it is the largest outpatient center in California for heroin and opioid painkiller addiction.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Aegis admits adult men and women over the age of 18 who have at least one year of opiate abuse and dependence. In an initial admissions process that lasts up to three hours, clients are required to complete a health history questionnaire, do a brief interview with the clinic manager, and receive a medical examination with the clinics’ physician, with corresponding lab work.
Aegis’ proprietary treatment model features evidence-based clinical therapy, social work, and comprehensive case management service. Treatment plans may include intensive individual counseling as well as group therapy and educational programs. In addition to MAT, which aims to stabilize the most intense withdrawal symptoms so that clients can address their underlying addiction issues.
Clients with no previous treatment history are sent to the 21-day detox program – also referred to by the center as “Rapid Detoxification.” Those with prior treatment experience and subsequent relapses are referred to one of three extended maintenance detox programs: one which lasts 180 days, one that’s six to 18 months, and another that lasts a minimum of 18 months. Clients also attend Keys to Recovery (K2R) support groups – weekly meetings created by the organization that cover relapse, anxiety, and stress, amongst other general topics.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Per the organization’s website, Aegis centers are staffed by a team of medical doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, and patient groups. The team is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities as well as state and medical agencies.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Best-rehabs.com has not received any reviews from this facility’s alumni to date. On Google, the center received a positive rating of 4.1 out of five stars from nine reviewers.[1] The alums there praised the staff and the rigor of the program for forcing them to take treatment seriously.
On Yelp, Aegis’ Simi Valley location received an average rating of three stars based on seven reports, reviews were mixed.[2] One of two five-star reviewers offered high praise for the staff.
On the other hand, one alum who left a negative review took issue with the program’s strict nature.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
To date, two loved ones have submitted reviews to Best-rehabs.com as of this writing reported mostly positive experiences with this Aegis facility**. Both awarded the clinic four star-ratings for its treatment effectiveness, its family participation, and its counseling options. They also praised treatment effectiveness and its treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders. Both commended the staff, with one describing them as “knowledgeable and friendly.”
Despite their praise, both alumni expressed frustration with the facility’s administrative system, suggesting the paperwork was “confusing.”
FINANCING
Aegis accepts private insurance, Medi-Cal, and Medicare. Sliding fee discounts and financial assistance may also be available. Additionally, in the state of California, 61 percent of facilities offer sliding scale fees, while 18 percent accept Medicare.
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