Who We Are

Annual Report 2021

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Executive Summary

Wellness Recovery (WR) began its first full calendar year of operation in 2021 faced with the emergence of the devastating Novel Corona Virus. CoVID 19 provided the backdrop for WR inaugural report. The global pandemic was especially devastating to individuals and families that suffer from addiction and substance use dependency. Especially vulnerable were impoverished individuals. First responders, health care and other front-line workers were exposed to extreme levels of traumatic stress that placed them at risk for addiction. Wellness Recovery, through the heroic efforts of our Counselors, Nurses, Technicians, and Physicians remained open delivering care 24 hours per day, 7 days per week throughout these very tough times. Staff members rallied together, became creative and re-worked the way we treat individuals to meet standards for safe residential care. WR, in cooperation with Tracy Counseling Center, now offers free inpatient and outpatient care to any first responder seeking treatment for addiction issues.

Wellness Recovery continues to provide an innovative treatment approach that incorporates a medical model with holistic treatment. Dr. Ryan Wakim and his staff provide top rated psychiatric treatment to manage withdrawal symptom and address overall well-being. Treatment philosophy is based on the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) standards. We believe that addiction treatment must coincide with mental health treatment and offer individual, group, psychoeducational counseling services.

Despite limitations brought on by the CoVID restrictions, staff members attended required trainings in CPR, First aid, Emergency management, Infectious Disease, Confidentiality Policies, and various modules in the treatment of addiction. Appendix 1 is a summary of staff trainings.

WR values feedback. Client satisfaction was assessed through a blind online survey. General satisfaction was measure at high or very high on a majority of the survey questions. Of particular note, were comments of professionalism and helpfulness that exceed client expectations. This simple fact reinforces our core employee expectations of non-judgmental empathy towards all persons. Appedix 2 shows the results of the survey.

While WR is relatively small for an inpatient facility, it is large in heart. Last year we provided care to 310 individuals. Ages of our clients ranged from 18 to 74 and crossed the diversity spectrum of age, gender, race, culture, socio-economic status and gender identity. WR believes that addiction, as a disease, shows no prejudice and is also a global pandemic. Our clients sought addiction treatment for a wide variety of issues with opioid and alcohol dependency being the top two. Our staff all share a pledge to help and support those need in a non-judgmental and empathic way. We hold positive regard for all people and look forward to our service to Fayette and near-by counties in the next year.

1. Who We Are:

Wellness Recovery provides comprehensive treatment for individuals 18 years of and older experiencing drug and alcohol addictions. WR will incorporate innovative treatment modalities, such as yoga, exercise, dieting, therapeutic massage, and music and art therapy.  Our goal is to educate clients about wellness as well as treat them for addiction. Our services will also include group classes and psycho-educational sessions for our patients. Subjects include topics such as nutrition, exercise, goal planning, stress management and conflict resolution. Wellness Recovery will focus on each individual to develop a specific treatment plan that best meets their needs to sustain recovery. For instance, after each patient arrives, they will be offered education in rehabilitation, nutrition and exercise as it relates to their particular issues. Our goal is to create a holistic and well-rounded experience for each patient in order to optimize their path towards wellness. 

2.Our Mission:

The mission of Wellness Recovery is to promote the health and well-being of the local population by providing accessible, high-quality care integrating the traditional medical model with holistic treatment for individuals suffering from drug and alcohol addictions. Wellness Recovery is committed to providing services that will exceed the expectations of our patients, resulting in a successful sustained recovery.

3.Our Philosophy:

Addiction can have a crippling effect on you and those around you and can lead to other serious health problems and behavioral disorders. Wellness Recovery holds the philosophy that addiction is a disease and lasting wellness can be attained through the proper balance of medical management, exercise, nutrition, holistic activities and psychoeducation. Wellness Recovery incorporates traditional cognitive and behavioral therapy to support behavioral change, Gestalt therapy to develop insight and motivational interviewing to provide reinforcement, encouragement and  motivation to maintain sobriety from drug and alcohol abuse. Reality therapy frames group sessions where clients will work on developing health, belonging (social and family), fun, freedom and power goals. 

1. Our Commitment to Confidentiality and Diversity

Wellness Recovery will maintain privacy according to state and federal regulations. Many of our policies are in place to secure our promise to confidential services. All patients are welcome, including those with no insurance. Our facility is nondiscriminatory and open to all races, creeds, sexual orientations, spiritual beliefs and socioeconomic status of clients. 

1. Our Integrated Service Model

Wellness Recovery will provide the following services, among others:

Short Term Rehabilitation:

• Provided

• Life Skills, Health Training

• Career Counseling

• Medical Management of Addiction and Behavioral Health Issues

• Holistic treatment to include yoga, exercise and massage

• Aftercare planning

Detoxification:

• Medical Management of addiction to detoxify and begin recovery process

• Individual Therapy

• Group Therapy -Counseling process group

• Holistic treatment to include yoga, exercise and massage

• 30-day inpatient stay for addicts

• Individual Therapy Provided

• Group Therapy- psychoeducational group

• Aftercare planning

1. Client Satisfaction

Wellness Recovery routinely conducts client satisfaction surveys to assure a delivery of a high quality of care as well as identify areas for growth. Detailed results of 30 former client surveys are included in appendix 2. At the same time, WR values feedback. Every Thursday morning our Quality Improvement team meets to review client issues, suggestions and reviews current policies and procedures to improve care. The team is multi-disciplinary and comprised of the medical director, nursing director and all counselors.

1. Client Demographic Data

Total Admissions:  310                                                Average Age:   42 years-old

Male:  248                                                                   Average Age:  42 years-old

Female: 62                                                                  Average Age:   35 years-old

African American 26

Hispanic 6

White/Caucasian 278

Other 0

Average admission days: 15

*Pro-bono admissions: 6

*No cost admissions given to individuals based upon financial need.

PA Counties Served:  Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland, Lawrence, Butler, Greene, Allegheny, Somerset

1. Outreach

Outreach activities were limited or restricted due to the COVID pandemic. In March and April, Dr. Tracy presented a series of free Facebook live lectures titled: addiction and coping during the crisis. The messages were sent via the Fayette EMS public site and received over 12,000 views. Additionally, in March and August Wellness Recovery staff participated in a Herald Standard news special on the effects of the pandemic on addiction. In July, WR staff participated in the day long Community Block Party for Recovery held on Main St. in Uniontown. WR also hosted 4 graduate students (2 from Duquesne University,(2 from California University of Pennsylvania)  for clinical experience in addiction treatment. WR provided conducted 2 outreach visits to meet and discuss admission criteria, coordination of care, and referral procedures for the social work departments at Highlands and Uniontown Hospitals.

1. Management Team and Staffing

Medical Director: Ryan Wakim, MD, Board Certified Psychiatry

Nursing Director: Alicia Costabile, CRNP

Chief Operating Officer and Project Director: Tyler Tracy, B.S.

Clinical Director: Alexandra B. Leopold, M.S.Ed

Owners: Scott Tracy Ph.D.; 

CPA: Mike Wilson

Total employees: 23

Total nurses employed: 5

Total counselors: 5

Total counselor technicians: 9

1. Prospects for Future

Addiction is a global pandemic that is not going away anytime soon. Wellness Recovery is committed to meeting that challenge as an ongoing mission for the future. In order to accomplish this WR needs to improve its financial profile so we are better able to access capital and human resources for our work. WR will actively applying for inclusion to additional insurance networks, funding grants and affiliation agreements with other institutions to improve cash flow.  Vaccination clinics have been set up in March and April for both staff and clients who have not yet been vaccinated for CoVID. Finally, WR looks forward to the return of in-person training and outreach activities as the nation, and world recovers from the pandemic.

January 15, 2021.                    Scott Tracy, Ph.D.