By: Lakeview Health
Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB) September 12, 2013 – Addiction is a progressive chronic disease that when left untreated is fatal. According to the 2008 National Survey of Drug Use and Health over 23 million people in the U.S. need treatment for drug or alcohol use, of whom 20.8 million receive no specialized care. The need to expand office-based treatment by training both primary care physicians and addiction specialty physicians has become critical, especially in Northern Florida. Unfortunately, addiction medicine (ADM) is rarely taught as a formal discipline in any of the nation’s 132 medical schools. Lakeview Health, a nationally recognized alcohol and drug treatment campus, has recently partnered with the local Jacksonville medical community to improve awareness among doctors so they may become the first line of defense. Under this new plan, second year primary care residents from St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Center Family Medicine Residency Program will shadow medical and clinical staff from Lakeview Health to understand the detox protocol process, medical and psychiatric interventions and learn more about addiction and behavioral health treatment. This addiction rotation prepares newly licensed physicians in understanding the disease of addiction, identifying the signs and symptoms, and learning interventions that can support patients and families in accessing appropriate treatment services. “We believe by fostering these types of partnerships we can better serve patients and families struggling with substance use and mental health disorders.” Says Dr. Kevin Holbert, Lakeview Health Addiction Fellow Dr. Terri Wall, Coordinator of Behavioral Health at St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Residency Program added, “This new relationship with Lakeview Health will provide behavioral health care exposure to St. Vincent’s Family Medicine residents, an increasingly important component in better patient care.” ABOUT LAKEVIEW HEALTH Lakeview Health is a nationally recognized addiction and dual diagnosis treatment facility located in Jacksonville, Florida. Since its founding in 2001, Lakeview has helped thousands of individuals and families across the country begin their journey of recovery. Our committed staff and award-winning treatment make Lakeview a place where healing and recovery begin. For more information visit the Lakeview Health news page. About St. Vincent’s HealthCare St. Vincent’s HealthCare includes: St. Vincent’s Riverside, St. Vincent’s Clay County (opening Oct. 2013), St. Vincent’s Southside, St. Catherine Labouré Manor, St. Vincent’s Primary Care, Consolidated Laboratories, St. Vincent’s Ambulance Service, Seton Pharmacies and Consolidated Pharmacies. St. Vincent’s Medical Center was founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1916 to provide health services to the sick and the poor of North Florida. St. Luke’s Hospital, now St. Vincent’s Southside was founded in 1873 by three women who saw the need for medical care in the community. It stands as Florida’s oldest private hospital. St. Vincent’s HealthCare is a member of Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system with more than 100,000 associates serving in 70 general acute care hospitals. Contact: Gina de Peralta Thorne, MS Vice President of Marketing Lakeview Health (904) 899-4536 gthorne(at)lakeviewhealth.multiplica.dev Ilyssa Drumm Marketing/Media Relations Coordinator St. Vincent’s HealthCare (904) 308-7968 Ilyssa.Trussel(at)jaxhealth.com
