Eleanor Health, the first addiction and mental health services provider designed to deliver whole-person, long-term substance abuse treatment focused on patient recovery outcomes and modeled on value-based care delivery and payments, opened a virtual clinic in Asheville today.
“We are in unprecedented times in our nation as North Carolinians are encouraged to stay at home. Quarantine, isolation, and lack of mental health services can have an adverse effect on those in recovery and the public at large,” stated Eleanor Health Co-Founder and CEO, Corbin Petro. “Because we recognize the increased need for mental health services, higher incidences of alcohol and other drug use, and decreased access to addiction treatment as a result of COVID-19 and social distancing, Eleanor Health is now opening our suite of fully virtual services to anyone living in NC. In addition to in-person care, our full care model including MAT, psychiatric management, therapy, nurse care navigation and recovery support services are available virtually.”
The Asheville clinic will be fully staffed for virtual care, as well as have limited walk-in hours and in-person appointments for those who are unable to connect virtually. The clinic will be the fifth of 10 to 15 Eleanor Health plans to open this year in North Carolina and across the country. You can tour the facility, here.
Eleanor Health is rethinking how to treat addiction with a cutting-edge approach designed to meet patients where they are in their recovery journey, through outpatient clinics, community settings, and at home through technology and field-based teams.
“The Coronavirus has created a mental health crisis in this country. Treatment providers have closed their doors as people struggle with uncertainty, isolation, and anxiety – substance abuse and relapse rates are at an all time high,” added Steve North, Eleanor Health North Carolina Medical Director. “Now is the time to expand treatment options, not limit them. We treat addiction as a chronic disease, using a comprehensive, whole-person approach and have developed a fully virtual model allowing anyone across the state of NC to seek treatment in their homes or in one of our clinics. ”
In the past year, Eleanor Health has opened clinics in Mooresville, Durham, Hickory and High Point with five additional NC locations planned for 2020, in addition to being able to serve patients across the state through use of telehealth and technology. Since launching in September of 2019, Eleanor Health’s team has grown to include more than 55 team members, including 40 medical, nursing, therapy and recovery support team members, 8 of whom were trained to practice MAT, adding capacity to serve more than 800 additional people in NC struggling with addiction.
“The patients that walk through our doors are not seen as patients rather as community members,” said Dr. Nzinga Harrison, Co-Founder and CMO of Eleanor Health. “We strive to know the people we are serving beyond the list of diagnoses in their medical charts. We want to know what is important to them, who is important to them, what brings them joy and purpose, so that we can provide whole-person treatment and support. Our goal is not just negative drug screens, but improvements in quality of life and meaningfulness. We couldn’t be more excited to continue our journey to recovery with those we serve, and the communities in which they live in and beyond Asheville.”
In addition to the whole-person approach, Eleanor Health is designed to be financially accountable for long-term, whole-person outcomes which include comprehensive treatment, including medication assisted treatment (MAT), for Opioid and other Substance Use Disorders.
“At Eleanor Health we recognize addiction as a chronic condition and strive to provide recovery for life for all of the community members who walk through our doors,” added Petro.
Eleanor Health is welcoming people into treatment in Asheville and across North Carolina while simultaneously integrating closely with the community. Grounded in evidence, a sense of community is integral to Eleanor Health’s model – both with existing organizations and in creating new ties.
Eleanor Health is dedicated to:
Providing treatment where most convenient for patients including a 100% virtual model, in addition to care in-home, in the community, and in Eleanor Health outpatient clinics.
Delivering comprehensive services including medication assisted treatment, psychiatric evaluation, treatment of all co-occurring psychiatric conditions, medication management, individual and group therapy, nurse care management, support to address social determinants of health, and peer recovery coaching.
Operating on a value-based payment structure so that payment is based on the positive health outcomes achieved, including reducing total health care costs, providing unmatched access, and achieving high patient satisfaction.
Employing teams of medical practitioners, addiction clinicians, and peer recovery coaches with personal lived experience, to engage and support individuals to achieve their recovery goals.
Coordinating care across the healthcare and social services continuum in order to improve the patient journey and increase long-term recovery rates and overall health outcomes for individuals.
“The cleanest, friendliness place you could imagine. Everyone there seems to sincerely care about your success, they are extremely accommodating and always happy to help. The receptionists are efficient and kind, the medical staff is considerate and knowledgeable, the counselors are genuine and easy to talk to. If your goal is a successful, long-term recovery then this is definitely the right place.” said one Eleanor Health Community Member.
