ABOUT MEADVILLE MEDICAL CENTER – STEPPING STONES
Located approximately 90 miles north of Pittsburgh, Meadville Medical Center (MMC) operates a substance use treatment program called Stepping Stones. This program offers individualized residential and outpatient treatment for adults struggling with chemical dependency and co-occurring mental health disorders. MMC is proud to provide on-site medically managed detoxification services, making it one of only 4.5 percent of hospital-based facilities in Pennsylvania to offer this valuable service.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Patients seeking addiction rehabilitation at MMC are admitted through any local emergency room. Each client receives a personalized treatment plan based on their specific needs and situations, determined by an initial assessment. These plans typically include individual, group, and family counseling sessions, as well as education classes. Residential treatment typically lasts for 28 days or fewer, while outpatient programs continue for a duration of eight to 16 weeks.
Outpatient treatment at MMC consists of two group counseling sessions and one individual counseling session per week. Additionally, family group meetings are held three times per week on the MMC campus, following a 12-week rotating schedule of topics. MMC also operates an employee assistance program, catering to the needs of local businesses.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The facility ensures that knowledgeable staff is available 24/7 to provide advice on the treatment of alcohol and drug influence. Confidentiality of clients is strictly maintained. When surveyed, one alum rated the staff’s level of training with three out of five stars.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
MMC offers residential treatment in a secure facility, with visitation hours only once a week. Phone calls are permitted on weekends. Based on surveys, most of the nine individuals polled gave positive reviews for the facility’s meals and accommodations. However, in the same surveys, one alum rated its exercise options two out of five stars, and leisure options only received one star.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Out of the six alumni surveyed at the time of this writing, two provided positive reviews for the MMC addiction treatment program, two gave neutral reviews, and two had negative experiences. Two alumni mentioned that while they would recommend the detox services, they were not satisfied with the extended treatment. For instance, one alum, Brad, stated, “Medical was great… Counseling was close to nonexistent. Follow up never happened.”
Two alumni also expressed disappointment in the lack of compassion from the staff. However, Kathy credited the program with saving her life, and Sandy reported that its serious and structured approach was effective. Sandy wrote, “I felt very comfortable with the staff and their seriousness toward recovery.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Three loved ones of clients surveyed by Best-rehabs.com provided mixed reviews for the facility. One loved one commended the facility’s “great family strategies,” but also noted the need for more staff. Another loved one expressed concerns about inadequate staff supervision, mentioning that their daughter learned “more ways to beat” the system.
Regarding Google reviews, three reviewers awarded MMC ratings of one, four, and five out of five stars for its behavioral health services [1]. The negative reviewer complained about their father’s poor psychosomatic diagnosis and treatment, highlighting symptoms such as swollen tongue and difficulty articulating speech. The satisfied reviewers did not provide further details about their experiences.
FINANCING
Meadville Medical Center offers a financial assistance program to clients who meet the qualification criteria. In addition, the facility accepts commercial insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. MMC has designated a staff member to assist clients in navigating the health insurance marketplace.
CONCLUSION
In January 2018, the Meadville Tribune reported an incident where MMC misidentified and mistreated one of its patients [1] https://goo.gl/iPYzpG.