Gaiser named ‘Center of Excellence’
The Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center’s inpatient treatment program was recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Friday.
According to Joseph Mahoney, executive director of the center, the recognition places the recovery center in an elite group of high-quality facilities.
“Overall, this will help us enable more individuals to find pathways to recovery and breaking down more barriers to recovery,” he said.
The Center of Excellence initiative was created to help alleviate the opioid crisis facing Pennsylvania as of 2016. According to the Department of Human Services, 10 people a day are lost to a substance abuse addiction.
The recognized inpatient treatment program at the Gaiser Center allows men and women to stay at 165 Old Plank Road for up to 90 days while they are provided auxiliary services, such as physical and psychiatric care, familial support services and more.
“We believe recovery is possible for everyone. We try to separate out the person and the circumstances,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re coming from upper or lower class, no matter your race, gender, religion. We’re dedicated to help find the path to recovery no matter what that looks like for every individual.”
Mahoney said five other facilities in Butler County have the Center of Excellence designation. The title also will allow the center to bill insurance companies for certain services they provide, opening the door for new initiatives.
“This can help us provide more high-quality community support services, meet people in the community and stabilize them in the community, taking holistic approach to recovery,” he said.
Mahoney said the recognition is a tribute to the excellent staff at the Gaiser Center.
“It’s tough to put into words how this feels. I’m so proud of our staff. They work so hard on our recovery mission,” he said. “We know we do the best client care and to finally get that recognition is breathtaking. It goes to credit the staff.”
