Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2020

By Andrea Nagel Sometimes, people in recovery from a behavioral health condition don’t need to participate in a full inpatient program—but they do need more support than a weekly counseling session. An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, can be helpful for those who need to step down from an inpatient program or step up from traditional therapy on their road to recovery or condition management. Kootenai Health’s mid-level, comprehensive IOP is designed to meet this need. In IOP, participants tap into their internal strengths and learn the skills needed to achieve Take the next step If you have questions or would like to speak to someone about joining the intensive outpatient program, please call (208) 625-4800 . HowDoes an IOP Benefit Patients? • An intensive outpatient program (IOP) continues treatment after a patient leaves the hospital. This increased duration of treatment has shown better outcomes for recovery. • An IOP provides a greater level of privacy for patients than an inpatient program and allows them to stay home during treatment—so they don’t need to miss long periods of work or be away from family. • An IOP’s clinical flexibility quickly responds to individual needs. Flexible and easily accessible IOP services help the patient maintain his or her everyday routines and responsibilities. • IOPs cost less than a residential or inpatient treatment program and have a higher retention rate than less-intensive outpatient programs. • An IOP offers patients daily, real-world opportunities for them to apply newly learned coping skills and increased opportunities to establish community-based support. • The enhanced treatment programs of an IOP foster greater patient responsibility and help the patient avoid and overcome relapses. • Patients in an IOP participate in local self-help groups from the beginning of their treatment. Being in a group enhances their ability to develop long-term, supportive relationships with other patients. their goals while enjoying the comfort of living in their own homes. “As a result of Kootenai’s IOP, we’ve seen clients who had sought help through the emergency department and inpatient hospital stabilize,” said Lisa Bunker, Kootenai Health’s Chemical Dependency Unit manager. “These clients were able to stay out of the acute medical system for over a year. It’s been very rewarding to watch lives rebuild and be filled with increased purpose and meaning.” Kootenai’s IOP: • Offers nine hours of therapy each week in three, three-hour group sessions A Bridge to Wellness In mental health treatment, an extra step can make all the difference • Is taught by clinicians with master’s degrees in mental health • Offers education on illnesses, including symptoms, medications and management strategies • Is often used as a bridge after hospitalization Philosophyof care Kootenai’s Behavioral Health team helps patients identify their personal strengths, develop goals and create achievable action plans to reach those goals. While there is no defined limit to the number of therapy sessions for each patient, our team will help develop individualized milestones to map out the road to success. The IOP can be billed through insurance providers. Call your insurance provider to see if you qualify for coverage. 18