Integrity House is launching a Nurse Care Management program (NCM) to help further integrate substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, mental health, and physical health care into its Newark-based outpatient treatment programs. The new program will help provide comprehensive care for the prevention, screening, and treatment of physical health conditions that often co-occur with SUD. This includes medical screenings and assessments for ailments such as hypertension, high cholesterol, viral hepatitis, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS. NCMs will also provide care coordination for clients in partnership with general and specialty medical providers to help address any additional needs. Telehealth services will also be available to those who need it.
The new NCM team consists of a project director, a nurse care manager, a case manager, a health coach, and a peer recovery specialist. Staff will work in three different Newark outpatient locations: 1091 Broad Street, 26 Longworth Street, and 659 Martin Luther King Boulevard, with 1091 serving as the main office for the team. All locations will begin taking clients via a walk-in clinic. the clinic will be open Monday and Thursday from 11 am – 7 pm at 26 Longworth Street, Wednesday from 11 am – 7 pm at 659 Martin Luther King Boulevard, and Tuesday and Friday from 11 am – 7 pm at 1091 Broad Street.
The NCM program is supported by a $207,500 contract from the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Integrity House is one of only four organizations to receive the award.
Integrity has embedded nursing services in its treatment programs for over 40 years and formally established a medical department on its Secaucus campus in 1994. Integrity House currently contracts or employs over 20 Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). Nurses in the Integrity House programs have been providing clients in their residential programs with screening services, addressing health issues, providing referrals for specialty health services, including flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, assisting with appointments, and providing education and prevention resources regarding chronic disease, comorbidities, and infectious diseases. Through the NCM, Integrity will be able to provide the same services to clients in its outpatient programs.