FRIDLEY, Minn. – (May 18, 2018) — A new unit dedicated to helping individuals who are struggling with addiction and have medical complications has opened this week at the Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus. The Addiction Medicine Unit provides 14 desperately needed beds within our community for patients who are at risk of withdrawal symptoms and also have other medical issues.
Previously, this patient population was admitted into various medical units within the hospital depending on their medical conditions, but without direct access to addiction withdrawal care. With the opening of the Addiction Medicine Unit, we now have a facility that is staffed with dedicated addiction specialists, hospitalist physicians and nursing staff who are trained to care for patients with both substance abuse and medical needs.
“More than 20 percent of all hospital admissions are due to addiction and substance abuse causes,” said Dr. Roger Laroche, medical director for Allina Health Addiction Services. “In the past, these patients could end up in many different parts of the hospital depending on their medical condition. With the creation of the Addiction Medicine Unit we now have space where the medical needs of these patients can be treated while they are also being cared for by addiction specialists.”
This Addiction Medicine Unit provides 24-hour nursing care and medical management to assure a safe withdrawal and medical stabilization.
