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KINGSTON — First Hospital in Kingston is ending the CHOICES inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation program as the facility puts greater emphasis on psychiatric care, a spokesperson for parent company Commonwealth Health Systems confirmed Wednesday.
An internal memo obtained separately by the Times Leader suggested CHOICES’ end at the Wyoming Avenue facility will come this week.
That message to staff from hospital CEO Greg Shannon indicated that the program will remain open just until current patients have completed their treatment.
“We anticipate the final day of operations will be November 22 since we are no longer accepting new admissions,” the Wednesday morning memo added.
Outpatient treatment for chemical dependency will remain available, officials said.
CHOICES inpatient services are being dropped “to focus our resources on meeting high priority behavioral health needs in our community, particularly inpatient acute psychiatric care,” according to a statement issued to the media via email from Marketing Vice President Annmarie Poslock.
According to that statement, Commonwealth health will work to provide other assignments within the system for displaced CHOICES employees, and will help those in need of inpatient rehab find an appropriate alternative.
The full public statement:
“We are ending the CHOICES inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation program to focus our resources on meeting high priority behavioral health needs in our community, particularly inpatient acute psychiatric care. Our community is fortunate to have several providers offering non-hospital inpatient drug and alcohol treatment.
“Going forward, we will help individuals who need inpatient chemical dependency rehab services identify the appropriate resource for care. CHOICES chemical dependency treatment remains available through the outpatient program, CHOICES Recovery (Methadone) and OASIS (Suboxone) and the programs are accepting new patients. First Hospital also offers dual diagnosis inpatient services for acute psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment.
“Human Resources is working with the inpatient CHOICES program employees to help them secure another assignment within our organization where they can apply their expertise in drug and alcohol treatment. We value their contributions, knowledge and experience.”