The purpose of New Age Services Corporation's Screening and Admission services is to assure the appropriateness of potential patients through our interview and assessment process based on the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria. Patients are assessed for level of function in six dimensions.  It is through this process that New Age Services Corporation is able to provide individualized, quality clinical care and treatment planning.

 Criteria for Admission

Prospective patients wishing to be admitted to New Age Services Corporation outpatient programs must be:

• Male or female at least 18 years old
• A resident of the state of Illinois
• Experiencing problems related to substance use
• Criteria for Medication Assisted Treatment (Methadone Maintenance)
  • Primary substance used is an opioid
  • Significant levels of tolerance are apparent or described and will experience withdrawal on abrupt discontinuation of opioid substance
  • Signs and symptoms that reflect compulsive and prolonged self-administration of opioid substance that are not used for legitimate medical purposes.

 Screening

A screening can take place in person or over the phone.  Screenings are conducted to determine the patient's appropriateness for treatment.  Information gathered during the screening includes:

• Age
• Gender
• Place of residence
• Legal status
• Income level
• Referral source
• Education and literacy level
• Physical conditions and/or handicaps

If it is determined that the patient is eligible, the prospective patient will be given an appointment for a complete comprehensive assessment.

 Priority Populations

NASC accepts clients who belong to priority populations as determined by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.  These populations include, in preferential order: 

• Pregnant injection drug users
• Pregnant and post-partum women
• Pregnant, post-partum woment and women with children
• Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) referred persons
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligible persons
• Department of Corrections (DOC) releases
• Treatment Alternative for Safer Communities (TASC) referrals

Persons from these populations will be given an assessmant appointment within 48 hours of initial contact with the agency.  Clients appropriate for admission will be placed at the start of any existing waiting list, and will be offered referrals to other appropriate providers to engage services as quickly as possible.  Persons from these populations will be offered an opportunity to join NASC groups while waiting for individual treatment to begin..

 Assessment

A comprehensive alcohol and drug assessment is administered on all prospective patients wishing to again admission to the program.  We gather information that places emphasis on all six dimensions as defined by ASAM PPC-2:

• Acute intoxication/withdrawal potential
• Biomedical conditions and complication
• Emotional/Behavioral conditions and complications
• Readiness for change
• Relapse/continued use potential
• Recovery environment

An individual needs assessment is also conducted.  This tool was developed by the staff of New Age Services Corporation as a way to measure and effectively manage the needs of the patient from the patient's perspective.

The patient is given an appointment for a complete physical examination which includes, but is not limited to:

• Liver function
• Urinalysis
• Tuberculosis skin test
• Syphilis screening
• Hepatitis C

Patients must complete a physical examination prior to starting Medication Assisted Treatment.

 Orientation

During the assessment, the patient is oriented on the rules and regulations of the program.  Each new patient is required to complete a 4 session orientation group within the first 4 months in the program.  This group provides new patients with information regarding health effects of drug use, the role of recovery management and other informaion designed to help establish treatment goals.

Last Updated: 1/8/2011 10:42 AM