HOLYOKE – MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s Acute Treatment Services (ATS) marked its year anniversary of offering medically-monitored detoxification for individuals with a substance use addiction.
“ATS has allowed the population that we serve to have easier access to care, added additional beds for substance use disorder services to the Western Massachusetts area, and given our patients the ability to be able to access treatment quicker,” said Leslie Goncalves, MiraVista’s Director of Nursing for Substance Use Disorder Services, of the recent milestone.
MiraVista opened in April 2021 on the grounds of former Providence Behavioral Health Hospital that, under then owner Trinity Health, offered detoxification services. MiraVista subsequently expanded staff and services for withdrawal from drug dependence that is the first step in recovery for those with the disease of addiction.
“Experiencing withdrawal symptoms from the misuse of substances is physically uncomfortable,” said Goncalves who worked for nine years with Trinity’s addictions services. “MiraVista’s program provides medical care to manage symptoms and decrease physical withdrawal symptoms.”
She added that “In addition, its clinical component provides recovery planning and allows our patients to start rebuilding self-esteem and connections to loved ones.”
“We are tremendously proud of the growth and devotion we have witnessed over the past year in our ATS staff to provide quality care,” Goncalves said. “The compassionate nursing care, in combination with effective case managers, mean ATS is able to fully support and bridge our patients in the next step in addiction treatment.”
The opioid-related overdose death rate in Massachusetts increased 9 percent in 2021 over 2020. MiraVista’s continuum of care for substance use includes its post-detox Clinical Stabilization Services as well as outpatient services that include Medication-Supported
Recovery, counseling, day treatment programming and a variety of support groups.
Since opening 17 months ago under TaraVista HealthPartners, a regional network of mental health and substance use disorder care providers, MiraVista, which offers psychiatric and substance use recovery treatment to both adolescents and adults, has served 15,000 inpatient bed days, and had over 300,000 outpatient visits.
About Mira
MiraVista Behavioral Health Center opened in Spring 2021 to address the critical need for additional inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services in Western Massachusetts. Located on the grounds of the former Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke, MiraVista offers psychiatric care services for both adults and adolescents, as well as an array of recovery rehabilitation programs including Acute Treatment Services (detox), Clinical
Stabilization Services (post-detox), and outpatient services such as the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), court-ordered services, and outpatient Medication Supported Recovery. Mira Vista cares for thousands of individuals from throughout the Western Mass region each year.
Care. Reimagined.
MiraVista Behavioral Health Center was built on the premise of person-centered care. We maintain an organization of thoughtful, empathic, energized team-members committed to creating and maintaining a warm, welcoming, and effective culture of care. Our purpose is to provide compassionate, effective, inspiring care for those challenged by mental health and substance use so they are empowered to lead fulfilling lives.