Ridgeview Hospital provides treatment

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

MIDDLE POINT — Alcoholism. Heroin addiction. Prescription pain killer abuse. Mental illness. Big city problems? Think again. It happens everywhere, and it happens in Van Wert County, Ohio.

Quickly and quietly, Ridgeview Behavioral Hospital, located on Lincoln Highway near Middle Point, has become a leading provider of care for those hoping to get their lives back on track.

“Heroin is definitely an epidemic here, and it has been an epidemic for many years,” said Luke Mohr, director of admissions at Ridgeview. “It’s very prevalent and we see a lot of heroin addiction, followed closely by alcoholism. Honestly, we’ve seen about every addiction, but most definitely the heroin, and people need to be aware of that.”

Mohr cautioned against comparing the facility to the dimly lit psychiatric wards one might see in the movies. In fact, Ridgeview Hospital has been completely renovated and remodeled since the building housed the former Lincolnway Home county nursing facility.

The warm and welcoming accommodations serve as the backdrop to the hospital’s mission of focusing on the unique needs and goals of each patient and to prevent their problems from continuing. It’s a tall order, Mohr said, but one that the facility is equipped for and prepared to take on.

The opening and operation of the local hospital is a huge benefit to a community that is in desperate need of services, Mohr said. “We’re serving a population that’s very underserved, and we take a lot of pride in that. These are people that are not really receiving the long-term help they need.”

The services offered at Ridgeview are based on a medical staff model with a licensed physician responsible for the quality and appropriateness of care. The team of treatment providers includes licensed and highly trained and experienced staff.

Designed for patients ages 18-75, Ridgeview Hospital admits individuals experiencing mental health issues serious enough to require an inpatient level of care. It also offers treatment and guidance to those with a dual diagnosis of mental illness and addiction issues.  The primary source of funding for the hospital is Medicare, in addition to private insurance. Patients also have the option of self-pay.

Since opening in May of 2012, the hospital has quickly and quietly grown into a highly respected provider of in-patient psychiatric care. The hospital is licensed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and was accredited as a hospital by the Joint Commission. It is currently staffed with approximately 90 doctors, therapists, nursing staff and administration, which all meet strict academic and experience standards.

Mohr stressed that 98 percent of patients in the facility voluntarily check themselves into the program, so the hospital does not typically see any type of violent behavior from its patients. “They’re here because they want to get help. Because of that, we don’t see any type of violence or anything like that here,” Mohr said, adding that the facility also accepts referrals from court systems, family members, etc.

While success in this field is hard to measure, Mohr said the one constant is that patients will undoubtedly see an improvement in their lives. “It’s definitely hard to measure because there are such a wide variety of patients and extenuating circumstances, but with some people, even a short period of sobriety is a good thing,” he said, adding “If someone leaves us and is sober for three months, that may possibly be the first time in ten years they have been sober for any length of time.”

The entire process can actually begin with a telephone call when an applicant will be prescreened. Once a determination is made, services are offered depending on each individual’s level of dependency and substance abuse.

Additionally, the facility offers medical protocols in assisting a patient to detox from the chemicals, which oftentimes can be an extremely painful experience for the patient. “That’s why we offer different medical protocols in order to detox them,” Mohr said, adding “it can be a painful process for people. Actually one of the most dangerous detoxifications is alcohol, and a lot of people don’t know that. When the body goes through withdrawal from chemicals, it’s a very difficult and sometimes painful process, but we work very hard to keep people as comfortable as we can.”

Equally important is the care that takes place after a patient is discharged from the facility. “Even after the dual diagnosis program is completed, our patients need a continuum of care which is something we take very seriously,” Mohr said, adding that the facility’s discharge planners make appointments for the patient based on their individual needs. “That typically includes medical and psychiatric appointments, as well as lists of community support in order to give our patients every opportunity to be successful.”

In just under a year of operation, the facility is off to a great start and there has been talk of future expansion. “Everyone has been very pleased with it so far, and we’re working hard every day to serve the community’s needs,” Mohr said, adding “we don’t have any dates yet, but there are definitely plans to expand in the future as well.”

For more information on Ridgeview Hospital, visit their website at www.ridgeviewhospital.net or call 419.968.2950.