RENTON, Wash. (PRWEB)
September 27, 2021
Ideal Option, a national leader in evidence-based medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder, and Safeway, one of the largest grocery retail chains in the U.S., have come together to make addiction treatment more accessible. Eligible Ideal Option patients can now schedule their follow up appointments inside the store’s Wellness Center, located at 200 S. 3rd St, Renton, WA 98057.
The Renton Safeway is the second location in the nation to host Ideal Option inside its walls. The collaboration not only represents a huge step towards reversing the stigma of addiction, but also offers patients a greater chance of sustaining recovery.
“Nearly 500 appointments have been completed already at our first Safeway location in Vancouver, an indication of the rapidly evolving acceptance by the community and our patients of making addiction treatment more visible and accessible,” said Tim Kilgallon, CEO of Ideal Option.
Broadening access in King County to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is timely. So far this year, there have been 240 fentanyl-involved overdose deaths in King County, already a 40% increase from the total number of fentanyl-involved deaths in 2020 (172), according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Ideal Option’s own lab data show that 49.5% of Washington patients that enrolled in treatment tested positive for fentanyl in July 2021 – a 71% increase over July 2020.
“Working with Ideal Option to provide low-barrier access to OUD treatment demonstrates our commitment to the safety, health and wellbeing of our communities,” said David Green, Director of Pharmacy Operations at Safeway. “We are thrilled to continue this collaboration with them to help more people stay in recovery and get their lives back.”
The Ideal Option clinic inside Safeway is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and is located next to the pharmacy, inside the Wellness Center. The clinic offers appointments for existing Ideal Option patients who are undergoing maintenance treatment for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and other substances.
Anyone is welcome to visit the Ideal Option clinic inside Safeway to pick up information and learn more. All new patients will begin treatment at the Ideal Option clinic in Auburn (1811 Howard Rd, Ste. #101), Tukwila (2801 South 128th St) or Bellevue (1215 120th Ave NE, Ste. #201) and become eligible to transition to Safeway for ongoing care after 3-4 weeks of consistent progress in recovery. Most forms of insurance are accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid, and patients can typically get started within 1-3 business days.
Patients can make an appointment by calling 1.877.522.1275 or visiting http://www.idealoption.com.
About Safeway and The Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. The company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs-Safeway. Albertsons Cos. is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2019 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave $225 million in food and financial support. In 2020, Albertsons Cos. made a $53 million commitment to community hunger relief efforts and a $5 million commitment to organizations supporting social justice. These efforts have helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, social justice and programs for people with disabilities and veterans’ outreach.
About Ideal Option
Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped nearly 50,000 patients through a network of over 70 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 10 states, including 26 locations in WA state. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts all forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.
Ideal Option’s team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.
In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.
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