Fairview Riverside Review
Fairview Riverside is part of the larger Fairview network of health clinics, each with their own specific programming. Riverside itself is involved with the University of Minnesota Medical Center, a full-service hospital that comes with its own specialized programs for mental health, gambling and psychosis; Riverside is its answer to substance abuse. Through an academic partnerships with University of Minnesota Academic Health Center and University of Minnesota Physicians, Riverside has stayed up to date with addiction research and become one of the leading recovery programs in Minnesota.
Accommodations and Food
Fairview is a basic hospital-style facility with 38 beds for men and 23 for women, each on separate floors. Its amenities meet the basic expectations for a residential hospital room—each has two double beds, a dresser and an attached bathroom. Private rooms can be requested when available, but the facility’s constant wait list makes it somewhat unlikely that residents will actually get one. While Fairview does have a common area where clients can use their computers or watch television, residents are not allowed to use cell phones or Internet in their rooms; there’s also no fitness center in their facility. Still, while Fairview may not be particularly luxurious, it does provide an atmosphere of medical reassurance for those who seek treatment there.
Both the men and women’s floors at Fairview have full-service kitchens, and residents are provided three meals daily as well as snacks from the cafeteria. While there are no gourmet meals or any regionally-specific cuisine, Fairview does provide a salad bar, sandwiches, stir-fry and rotating entrées with enough variety to accommodate most tastes. Residents are also welcome to use the kitchens for preparing meals on their own, should they so choose.
Treatment and Staff
Fairview offers on-site detox and an inpatient track called Lodging Plus; it has a separate track for dual diagnosis, though only as an outpatient program. The clinic mostly serves a younger population which is sometimes coupled with the homeless folk of Minneapolis, due to the urban location. For the most part, Fairview provides standardized hospital care and amenities to its residents, though there is an average three-to-four week waiting period for prospective clients.
Treatment begins with a medical detox in its own separate unit, the length and process of which varies from client to client based on their history of use. On average, detox takes three to five days. The detox unit is well-staffed with nurses and psychiatrists, and can house 20 in either private or double rooms, all depending on availability. Medication is also available when necessary, and clients can participate in group therapy or meetings with psychiatrists during this period if they feel up to it.
Once clients are mentally and physically stable, the psychiatric staff will make a recommendation as to whether they should move forward with Lodging Plus or their dual diagnosis Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Lodging Plus is 21 days long and has no mental health component, meaning no psychotherapy will be made available; instead, counseling will focus specifically on clients’ addictions.
Throughout the program, residents will participate in six hours of intensive counseling and group therapy a day. Daily schedules vary, but generally days include lectures with guest speakers, classes on dealing with stress and lots of homework including journaling, writing, reflecting and processing. Depending on the weather, clients can go outside for exercise and therapy sessions. There is also some recreational time throughout the day for residents to read, watch television or interact with their roommates and neighbors.
Fairview’s outpatient dual diagnosis program focuses primarily on clients with a history of mental illness, or those who have had prior treatment and relapsed. Because the focus is mainly psychological, the staff consists largely of therapists that are either psychologists or licensed specialist clinical social workers (LSCSW). The program generally lasts six to eight weeks and meets three hours a day, five days a week. Primary counseling is done in groups, but each client is assigned a specific therapist. The two available time slots for the dual diagnosis program are between 9–12 pm or 11–2 pm, with each group generally made up of 10 clients. The program can also accommodate seniors with chemical dependency and those who have relapsed. Upon completion, each client can also attend an aftercare support group run by Fairview’s alumni association.
The facility is sufficiently staffed with drug and alcohol counselors, psychiatrists, nurses and psychiatric associates. Each resident is assigned two counselors, one as a primary and a second as a back-up should the first be unavailable. A cultural resource representative is also on-site to facilitate translations or any other culturally-specific needs. To that end, there are also interpreters and employees who specialize in aiding the elderly and hearing-impaired.
Extras
Fairview also believes in working with clients’ family members in its programs as well. Since the primary treatment method at Fairview tends toward group therapy, their family program‘s approach takes a similar tack and includes medical support, educational sessions, therapy and an introduction to the 12 steps.
One important note about payment for residents without insurance is that they can sometimes get their treatment paid for through Rule 25, a chemical-health assessment that determines the level of services needed. In some cases, residents can phone their local county’s Rule 25 office and follow their procedures to obtaining an assessment; based on a client’s economical needs, the county may pay for their entire treatment. Minneapolis’s Rule 25 site has more information on how to apply and eligibility.
In Summary
Overall, Fairview offers a basic 21 day treatment plan through the 12 steps with plenty of clinical support. Clients can expect a comprehensive medical staff and solid treatment.
Fairview Riverside Location
606 24th Ave. S., Ste 700
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Fairview Riverside Cost
$28,000 (21 days; LodgingPlus); $19,000 (30 days, dual diagnosis outpatient). Reach Fairview Riverside by phone at (612) 672-2736. Find Fairview Riverside on Facebook
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