Spectrum Health Systems Announces Opening of Rapid Access Treatment in Framingham

In full transparency, the press release and photo were submitted to SOURCE media.

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FRAMINGHAM – Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a comprehensive continuum of CARF-accredited substance use disorder treatment, was recently awarded a new contract with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to provide rapid access treatment at its outpatient treatment center located at 68 Franklin Street in Framingham.

The new program will offer on-demand medication for addiction recovery utilizing a “hub and spoke” model of care. Spectrum’s outpatient treatment center will serve as the intake hub, providing immediate access to buprenorphine and naltrexone treatment, along with mental health and recovery support navigator services for individuals with opioid use and/or stimulant use disorders.

Once stabilized, patients will be transitioned to another community provider (“spokes”), the Edward M Kennedy Health Center or any of Spectrum’s outpatient treatment centers, for continuing treatment closer to home.  

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“Spectrum recognizes that providing immediate access when an individual is ready for treatment is essential to a patient’s engagement and retention,” said Kristin Nolan, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health. “More than 15 years ago, we initiated same-day, walk-in access for methadone services which allowed us to immediately stabilize individuals when they were ready for treatment, avoiding the long delays and multiple screening appointments required under more traditional admissions procedures.” 

In 2019, Spectrum applied its walk-in, same-day treatment access model to office-based buprenorphine treatment, opening its first rapid access treatment program at 25 Pleasant Street in Worcester.  

“Spectrum is committed to implementing rapid access, low-barrier treatment programs such as this, believing it is the most effective way to engage patients in treatment without delays when they are ready, willing and able to do so,” explained Chief Medical Officer Jeffrey Baxter, M.D. “This program will also provide critical ‘bridging’ treatment services to ensure that patients who start treatment in other places—such as emergency rooms, hospitals, and correctional programs—can continue life-saving treatment without interruption.” 

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The new Framingham program is scheduled to open on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Same-day admission and walk-in access will be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Individuals looking for additional information about rapid access to medication for addiction recovery are encouraged to call 508-875-5801. 

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Based in Worcester, and founded in 1969, Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. is a private, non-profit substance use and mental health treatment provider. Spectrum offers the largest and most complete continuum of addiction treatment in New England — including inpatient detoxification, residential rehabilitation, outpatient services, medication for addiction recovery, and peer recovery support. Spectrum also offers inpatient detoxification and residential treatment for commercially insured and private pay clients through its subsidiary, The New England Recovery Center. 

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