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June 24-25, 2019 | Philadelphia, USA
PSYCHIATRY DISORDERS, MENTAL
HEALTH ANDWELLNESS
World Summit on
Mental Health 2019 Journal of Mental Health and Aging | Volume 3
Page 18
OF EXCELLENCE
IN INTERNATIONAL
MEETINGS
YEARS
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO
MEDICATED ASSISTED TREATMENT
Merakey Parkside Recovery has designed an innovative treatment model
to address the opioid epidemic plaguing the city of Philadelphia. The
Merakey Parkside Mobile Intake and Assessment team travel throughout the
city, providing outreach, screening and intervention efforts to individuals ex-
periencing substance use and/or co-occurring symptoms. They also deliver
interventions through emergency services or admission to the appropriate
level of care by creating immediate access to services and engaging individ-
uals in their environment with consideration for their unique needs. The de-
sign of this innovative service aims to remove barriers to immediate access
to treatment, promote same day admissions, reduce readmissions, shorten
lengths of stay and decrease treatment failure, ultimately enhancing treat-
ment outcomes and yielding reduced overall costs. The Merakey Parkside
Mobile Intake and Assessment Unit provide access to care utilizing all three
forms of MAT (Methadone, Buprenorphine and Vivitrol). Persons in recovery
(PIR) have same day access to our physicians so that their physical discomfort
in withdrawal can be alleviated as soon as possible. The Mobile Intake and
Assessment Unit allows them to continue with their long-standing practice
and ability to admit clients to MAT regardless of the use of other substances,
issues with transportation, homelessness or any other social determinants of
health. Merakey Parkside has improved access to services with the use of our
Mobile Unit to actively engage individuals in need of services. The Mobile
Unit utilizes a centralized intake hotline for those either in need of recovery
services or those who are referring someone to their care. Whether under a
bridge in a local encampment site, in a homeless shelter or in a crisis unit
the Mobile Unit is truly meeting people at their current living situation. The
Merakey Parkside model is based on a true outreach initiative that extends
beyond the walls of a traditional clinic and is built on an integrated and coor-
dinated approach to care.
Josh Vigderman has been working in the behav-
ioral health field for 14 years. He has been in-
volved in the Drug and Alcohol programs for Mer-
akey since 2007. While working with Merakey, he
had multiple roles, beginning as a Therapist and
now in his current position as Executive Director–
Addiction Services. He was recently a recipient of
Philadelphia’s Social Innovation Awards for his
work implementing a mobile team to help clean
up Philadelphia’s encampment sites. He is very
passionate and dedicated to help any individual
who is seeking treatment through Merakey. He
received his Master’s in Clinical Counseling Psy-
chology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor
in the State of Pennsylvania.
Josh Vigderman
Merakey, USA
BIOGRAPHY
Josh Vigderman, J Ment Health Aging 2019, Volume 3