In 2021, more than 1,600 Texans died of fentanyl related overdoses, which was an increase of 89% from the prior year…expanding the reach of our existing programs is an important goal to remove barriers for individuals who are in need of accessible, effective, and affordable treatment options.

BENBROOK, Texas and PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio (PRWEB)
April 25, 2023

The need for access to treatment for opioid use and other substance use disorders has unfortunately only grown in urgency over the last few years as the opioid epidemic was not only eclipsed but exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. BayMark Health Services has continued to expand services in response to this overwhelming need with the recent expansion of our MedMark Treatment Centers program locations for opioid use disorder in Texas and Ohio.

This week BayMark announced that its Fort Worth Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) has expanded into Benbrook, TX. The newly opened medication unit will increase the reach of the existing program on McCart Avenue in Fort Worth. Located at 6240 Southwest Blvd, the location provides treatment with methadone or buprenorphine medications, laboratory services and health screenings. Patients will visit the primary Fort Worth location for the initial intake and ongoing on-site or virtual counseling services with the benefit of accessibility to a convenient nearby location where medication services can be received once the patient is stabilized in treatment.

“In the past few years, the opioid epidemic has taken an alarming turn with the arrival of fentanyl in the United States as an inexpensive, easy to access and very potent, often lethal, drug. Fentanyl, heroin, and pain medications with opioids are all highly addictive, and treatment medications combined with counseling services are the gold standard of care.” notes David K. White, Ph.D., CEO of BayMark Health Services. “In 2021, more than 1,600 Texans died of fentanyl related overdoses, which was an increase of 89% from the prior year. The addition of medication-units and expanding the reach of our existing programs is an important goal to remove barriers for individuals who are in need of accessible, effective and affordable treatment options.”

Earlier this year, BayMark announced the opening of an OTP in Parma Heights, OH, just outside Cleveland, offering a full spectrum of medication-assisted treatment and counseling services. A state afflicted heavily by the impact of fentanyl; this program expands treatment options in Cuyahoga County where the deadly drug is now the leading cause of drug overdose. Located at 6700 Pearl Road, MedMark Parma Heights in now accepting new and transferring patients.

MedMark Treatment Centers are known across the country as providers of comprehensive, individualized programs for adults struggling with opioid addiction. Through medication management and counseling, MAT reduces the symptoms of withdrawal and cravings, paving the way for patients to develop new coping mechanisms, access resources to regain stability in their lives and participate fully in their families and communities. Additionally, MedMark programs provide addiction education, relapse prevention, lab testing, coordinated care for pregnant patients and linkages to community resources. For more information on MedMark and our services visit: MedMark.com.

To inquire about admission or make a referral to Fort Worth/Benbrook, call 817.207.8700.

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Raft Cover

“With Raft,” says Krieger, “I wanted to write about the joys and challenges of being a family in our current world….” Krieger’s venture toward reaching the gen-Xers and millennials whose childhoods he helped write hits the mark, resulting in a hilarious, family-focused masterpiece.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
April 25, 2023

Stu Krieger, award-winning screenwriter and author of The Land Before Time and multiple acclaimed Disney Channel Original Movies, has written a timely and relatable adult fiction book about a family in the midst of a patriarchal midlife crisis in Raft, published by Pipevine Press (an imprint of Warren Publishing). Hilariously written in multiple narratives from the perspectives of a father who spontaneously turns into a penguin; a wife who is barely hanging on given the stresses of marriage, motherhood…and being wed to a penguin; and their angsty teenaged son and daughter, Raft offers a glimpse into the highs, lows, and hijinks of one Los Angeles family trying to stay afloat. This page-turner reminds us all that being able to see the world through other points-of-view, learning to laugh together, and celebrating family bonds is what life is all about.

In the throes of midlife crises, some men take up skydiving or mountain biking. Some buy sleek new sports cars. Clark Whitaker, a stressed-out children’s book author, has turned into a penguin. Raft “…nailed the speech of both parents and two teenagers. Something, as a writer, I know first-hand, is extremely difficult,” says Laura Numeroff, author of the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series. In dealing with Clark’s inexplicable transformation from suburban dad to arctic avian, the Whitakers embark on a humor-filled tour hoping to restore Clark to his natural state and inadvertently rediscover the power in their family bond.

Krieger, who wrote the beloved Zenon series, shifts his brand from a typical child-focused audience and seamlessly writes a tale that’s strictly for adults, all while maintaining his knack for wit and expertly crafted narrative. “With Raft,” says Krieger, “I wanted to write about the joys and challenges of being a family in our current world….” Krieger’s venture toward reaching the gen-Xers and millennials whose childhoods he helped write hits the mark, resulting in a hilarious, family-focused masterpiece. As Parker Stevenson says, “Stu …has gifted us all with a magical and surprising laugh-out-loud novel. It should not be missed.”

Krieger’s tale will captivate, entertain, and inspire readers, providing a fresh perspective into what it means to be a family. “I hope to remind readers that, to be in successful relationships, you always need the ability to understand how things might be seen and felt through someone else’s lens,” says Krieger. The late David Crosby called Raft “Fun and imaginative…just the kind of trip we all need right now.”

Raft can be ordered on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, warrenpublishing.net, and requested wherever books are sold. For media interviews and author appearances, contact Mindy Kuhn at (704) 900-0236, warrenpublish@gmail.com, or visit http://www.warrenpublishing.net/.

ABOUT STU KRIEGER

Since 2006, Krieger has been a professor in University of California Riverside’s Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production. From 2001–2020, he also taught one class per year at USC’s prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program. Prior to his move to full-time academia, he was a film and television writer with more than thirty produced credits, including co-writing the Emmy-winning miniseries, A Year in the Life, writing the screenplay for the animated classic, The Land Before Time, and writing or co-writing eleven Disney Channel Original Movies. He has also written the novel That One Cigarette published in 2017. Krieger can be found online on Facebook, TikTok, and on Instagram @stukrieger. Listen to a full interview with Krieger at findingfounders.co/episodes/stu-krieger.

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Northeast Delta HSA’s 2023 Youth Summit to Empower, Educate, And Elevate Carroll High Students

“We will continue to create a positive regional child, young adult, and family ecosystem that will further address the mental health, academic, social, and physical health needs of children and young adults much earlier than ever before,” Dr. Sizer said.

MONROE, La. (PRWEB)
April 20, 2023

Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) is set to host a Youth Summit at Carroll High School on May 5, 2023, from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. NEDHSA’s Youth Summit is part of its mitigation efforts to combat teen suicide, underage drinking, mental illness, health and wellness challenges, low academic achievement, and more.

The theme for the Youth Summit is “Becoming the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time),” which will focus on the impact youth can make in the community and help them understand the power within themselves. This event also aims to raise awareness of underage drinking and help youth recognize their power to make positive change.

NEDHSA Executive Director Dr. Monteic A. Sizer said, “We are committed to creating and providing the resources and innovations needed to help our region’s youth and young adults become more resilient, overcome adverse childhood trauma, and succeed academically.”

“We will continue to create a positive regional child, young adult, and family ecosystem that will further address the mental health, academic, social, and physical health needs of children and young adults much earlier than ever before,” Dr. Sizer said. “We also know that there is a direct correlation between childhood trauma and negative health outcomes for children and young adults. This is why we continue to do this innovative work.”

As part of NEDHSA’s continued effort to build a unified community where individuals thrive and reach their full human potential, targeting adolescents plays a crucial role. The key message is to raise awareness and reduce the incidence of underage drinking and other data-driven priorities in northeast Louisiana. This event will show adolescents that they are top priority and that NEDHSA is dedicated to reducing underage access to alcohol and underage drinking.

The Youth Summit will feature keynote speaker Louisiana-based Gospel Hip-Hop/ R&B artist Al “big AL” Cherry, a family man, motivational speaker, and preacher. There will also be local influencers and motivational speakers to share transformational words of encouragement and empowerment, such as the 2023 Miss University of Louisiana Monroe Leslie Hobgood and entrepreneur Mashi Epting.

The event will also feature JiggAerobics. JiggAerobics will be led by LaDonte Lotts, better known as “Mr. Get Right.” Lotts founded JiggAerobics as a dance-based fitness program that fuses “jigging,” an energetic Louisiana dance style, with Lotts’ dance moves and numerous plyometric exercises.

Dr. Sizer added: ” We know children and young adults are looking for authenticity and a place to belong. They are looking for genuine connections to be able to express their hopes, fears, and dreams. Therefore, we plan to further create lifesaving opportunities that are consistent with our various treatment and prevention and wellness innovations so that our region’s children and young adults can live and thrive.”

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SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB)
April 19, 2023

An industry first, Done. has reimagined today’s mental-health solutions with a revolutionary hybrid platform designed to tackle psychiatric care. Through an innovative and holistic approach, Done. now allows anyone to tap into the best of both virtual and in-person treatments to better help patients and clinicians achieve better clinical outcomes.

The new platform combines 200+ in-person offices through a blended use of trusted clinical partnerships and virtual care. As a result, Done. now meets patients whenever and wherever they are to deliver world-class psychiatric care nationwide. Hybrid care is defined as a combination of in-person with virtual coverage to provide a holistic option for the patient and provider to achieve the greatest clinical outcomes possible. Done. achieves this fusion of coverage through a “direct” and collaborative care model. It merges Done.’s ongoing virtual care experience with high-touch in-person care conducted by Done.’s clinician consultations at Done. offices, through partner clinician in-person consultations, and via trusted provider referrals to distribute access to the best psychiatric care available.

Done’s mission has always been to empower and support our members in reaching their potential. We started Done because there was a lack of qualified clinicians to treat patients and because patients struggled to access care within their communities. As the Biden administration announced on January 30, 2023, the COVID-19 public-health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023.

Based on the updated regulation, the Done. team has now adapted to meet the needs of how society has shifted by providing a combination of in-person and virtual care. In 2020, given the velocity of patient demand as well as the need to accommodate regulations for virtual care licensing and prescribing, the physical and economic barriers to access, particularly in underserved communities, were eliminated. Now, post-pandemic, and given our original mission to meet patients when and where they are, we are doing just that – offering the best in both in-person and virtual care through Done. offices and partnerships to serve patients with holistic psychiatric care that goes beyond ADHD treatment. As the means to distribute care shifts, so, too, is the nature of the treatment. Done. first committed to better access and efficiency for ADHD care.

Today, we’ve built a technology platform that sets a higher standard for patient care, and while we believe that our specialization in ADHD allows us to achieve better clinical outcomes and safer patient care, we are now ready to expand into a holistic approach that focuses on a wider range of psychiatric challenges.

Working in tandem with in-person medical practitioners, the Done. platform arms clinicians with deeper data and insights to ensure accurate diagnoses and allow monitoring of patient use of prescribed drugs to ensure proper dosage and mitigate potential abuse. The Done. platform leads the way to encapsulate how technology can improve the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services to make life better for patients.

As Done. scales our hybrid model nationally to all members, we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure a smooth transition for our patients and will keep them informed throughout the process. To learn more about the platform, visit DoneFirst.com.

About Done.

Done. is a hybrid-care (in-person + virtual) health platform that empowers anyone living with mental health challenges to reach their fullest potential. Through a patient-first, technology-powered platform, industry-leading digital-health company, Done. makes high-quality psychiatric chronic care management more accessible and affordable. Disclaimer: Done. is an online platform that connects members with qualified clinicians to screen, diagnose, and treat members with ADHD. Done. does not provide medical services. All professional services on the Done. platform are provided by clinicians who are psychiatric board-certified medical professionals;

Done. does not engage in the prescription business.

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ODG by MCG is the healthcare industry leader in evidence-based, decision support for workers’ compensation, disability, and auto liability claims management.

“Dr. LaCroix and I are excited to share insights from the years of workers’ compensation claims data with IAIABC attendees.” – Pam Bloom-Pugliese, Director of Product Management, ODG by MCG

TAMPA, Fla. (PRWEB)
April 13, 2023

ODG by MCG, an MCG Health company and part of the Hearst Health network, announces its Director of Product Management, Pam Bloom-Pugliese, will co-present with Dr. Michael LaCroix, Medical Director of The Hartford Financial Services Group, at the IAIABC Forum happening on April 24-27, 2023 in Clearwater, Florida. This annual forum brings together IAIABC’s committees and councils to discuss policy and administrative issues in workers’ compensation.

Mrs. Bloom-Pugliese and Dr. LaCroix will present the session, “Work Disability Prevention and Return to Work Committee Meeting,” on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (ET). This presentation will address mental health conditions and how they can affect other medical comorbidities, including work-related diagnoses and disability. By evaluating years of claims data, the presenters will explore the financial impact of mental health conditions on workers’ compensation and group benefits claim durations with respect to age, gender, and diagnoses.

“While a great deal of scientific information about mental health is available, specific information about mental health from a claims perspective is limited,” said Mrs. Bloom-Pugliese. “Dr. LaCroix and I are excited to share insights from the years of workers’ compensation claims data with IAIABC attendees. We believe the information in this session will help professionals make recommendations for better management of such claims.”

For those interested in attending the IAIABC Forum 2023, registration details and additional information can be found at: https://www.iaiabc.org/forum-2023.

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About ODG

ODG, an MCG Health company, (http://www.mcg.com/odg) provides unbiased, evidence-based guidelines that support payers, providers, employers, and auto insurers in their efforts to return people confidently and effectively to health. The clinical guidelines and analytical tools within ODG are designed to improve and benchmark return-to-work performance, facilitate quality care while limiting inappropriate utilization, assess claim risk for interventional triage, and set reserves based on industry data.

About MCG

MCG, part of the Hearst Health network, helps healthcare organizations implement informed care strategies that proactively and efficiently move people toward health. MCG’s transparent assessment of the latest research and scholarly articles, along with our own data analysis, gives patients, providers, and payers the vetted information they need to feel confident in every care decision, in every moment. For more information visit http://www.mcg.com or follow our Twitter handle at @MCG_Health.

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This book was written as a practical guide for people with anxiety,” said Savage-Weeks. “It’s less about understanding the origins of one’s anxiety and more about learning to work with it, so that it doesn’t stand between you and living your life.”

VISALIA, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 11, 2023

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Edie Savage-Weeks has penned a new book sharing her “bag of tools” to help reduce or eliminate anxiety.

In “Heal Your Anxiety Now! Five-Minute Tools for Moving Beyond Surviving into Thriving,” Savage-Weeks lays out the methods that her clients report are easy to learn and use, and that work in a short period of time. These allow her patients to incorporate them into even the busiest lifestyles.

“This book was written as a practical guide for people with anxiety,” said Savage-Weeks. “It’s less about understanding the origins of one’s anxiety and more about learning to work with it, so that it doesn’t stand between you and living your life.”

Savage-Weeks brings her 40 years of experience as a therapist, former child welfare services social worker, and medical social worker by sharing the practical tools she has taught her clients and that she has used herself in healing her own anxiety and trauma.

“When you read this book, you will feel and know: ‘I can do this! I can move beyond survival. I can thrive in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of my being,” exclaimed Savage-Weeks.

“Heal Your Anxiety Now! Five-Minute Tools for Moving Beyond Surviving into Thriving”

By Edie Savage-Weeks

ISBN: 9798765235195 (softcover); 9798765235188 (hardcover); 9798765235201 (electronic); B0BX4VFNHX (audiobook)

Available at Balboa Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Edie Savage-Weeks, MA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, has worked with hundreds of children, teens, and adults who have struggled with anxiety, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Edie believes in empowering individuals to live the life they want to live free from anxiety. She received a master’s degree from Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Calif. To learn more, please visit https://ediesavageweeks.com/

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Consistent, affordable, and flexible care from full-time licensed therapists should be accessible to everyone–especially to those that serve our country.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 11, 2023

Sensible Care, an end-to-end online behavioral health provider, today announced that its teletherapy services are now available statewide to residents of Texas and Virginia. With the expansion, Sensible Care is furthering its commitment to provide patients with high-quality teletherapy, especially to communities with high demand such as active duty and retired service members and their families covered by TRICARE.

Texas is the most populous state for service members with nearly a million TRICARE members. Virginia also has one of the country’s highest service member populations. According to a recent JAMA study, 35% of TRICARE beneficiaries lived in communities with a shortage of both military and civilian psychiatrists, and 6% of beneficiaries had no psychiatrists available within a 30-minute drive time. This bottleneck prevents countless patients from receiving the much-needed care they deserve.

“As a company founded and led by veterans, we understand the unique needs and challenges that face service members and their families regarding mental health,” said Paul Kim, CEO and Founder of Sensible Care. “Consistent, affordable, and flexible care from full-time licensed therapists should be accessible to everyone–especially to those that serve our country. Expanding to Texas and Virginia allows us to reach and serve a significant population in need.”

Sensible Care solves the existing inaccessibility problem by delivering patient care via video and maximizing convenience with simple and flexible online scheduling. Since its founding in 2017, Sensible Care has been serving patients in California. Now, patients statewide in Texas and Virginia, including TRICARE members and their families, can easily book same-week online psychiatric and therapy appointments with licensed clinicians with low or no out-of-pocket costs.

Paul Kim, Sensible Care’s CEO, enlisted in the Army as an infantry soldier after 9/11. After struggling with PTSD and finding it difficult to find quality mental health care, Paul spent the next 10 years learning about the behavioral health industry before co-founding Sensible Care. Today, TRICARE members make up about a quarter of their caseload.

To find a local provider and book an appointment, please visit https://sensiblecare.com/providers.

About Sensible Care

Sensible Care is a leading end-to-end online behavioral health provider founded and led by veterans. Patients are able to easily book same-week psychiatric and therapy video visits for individuals, couples and families, including children and adolescents, using the insurance they already have. The company currently provides telepsychiatry and teletherapy services to all of California, Texas and Virginia. For more information, visit https://www.sensiblecare.com/.

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