Pioneering Michigan Substance Abuse Treatment Center Chosen Over Other Addiction Hospitals in Europe, Asia and U.S.
Brighton, MI--- January 25, 2010---Brighton Hospital, the second-oldest alcohol and drug treatment provider in North America, has signed a letter of intent to begin a long-term management contract with a Saudi Arabian company to build a 291,000 square-foot, 250 bed addiction treatment facility in Riyadh, to serve the entire Islamic Mideast.
Brighton Hospital, the Addiction Treatment Center of Excellence within Ascension Health, the largest US faith-based health system, was chosen after a nine-month international search that included several other larger and more famous addiction treatment hospitals in the U.S. Asia and Europe. “Brighton Hospital was chosen due to its expertise, high success rate, clinical care model and 12-step approach,” explains Mohammed Al-Turaiki, CEO of Saudi Care for Rehabilitation and Health Care and world-renowned bioengineer, inventor, human rights advocate and rehabilitation specialist.
“We are so impressed with Brighton and want to involve them in every step in this project,” said Al-Turaiki, who also is president of the Islamic World Council on Disability and Rehabilitation. “Our contract with Brighton Hospital will cover consulting, management, recruiting, technology transfer and clinical services.”
According to Denise Bertin-Epp, President and Chief Nursing Officer of Brighton Hospital, another deciding factor for Al-Turaiki was Brighton Hospital’s, proprietary electronic behavioral dependency technology, developed with New Jersey-based Medical Communication Systems. Brighton developed the specialty electronic medical record system four years ago and has been using it the past three years. The benefits of the behavioral dependency information technology are increased efficiency for medical and nursing staff and greater benefits to patients with addiction, psychiatric, or dual diagnoses in their immediate and ongoing recovery.
Design and construction on the tentatively named Saudi Care Brighton Hospital is expected to begin later this year after Brighton Hospital officials review and provide guidance to the architecture and design plans. The investment for this new facility is an estimated $60 million US and will feature 230 general inpatient beds, 20 intensive care beds and an emergency department. Future developments in Saudi Arabia may include regionally distributed, addiction and mental health and medical clinics following the completion of the central facility outside of Riyadh.
Bertin-Epp, , said that signing the letter of intent is just the first step in the due diligence process.
“At this point we are quite encouraged with this new collaboration. We will visit Saudi Arabia in a few months to make sure it is mutually beneficial,” Bertin-Epp said. “This will provide an opportunity to extend our expertise to countries in that region of the world that need addiction care.”
Over the past decade, the numbers of Saudis and Muslims in the Gulf region who have become addicted to illicit drugs, narcotics and alcohol has tripled. “It has become a serious problem,” Al-Turaiki said. “The demand for a facility like we are building is very great. We plan to serve the Islamic world, not just Saudi Arabia. Brighton is our strategic partner and will help us build five other satellite facilities once this sophisticated hub addiction hospital comes on line.”
About Brighton Hospital:
Brighton Hospital, a member of Ascension Health’s St. John Health System, is the second oldest alcohol and substance abuse treatment center in the United States. It was founded 60 years ago and continues to be a standard-bearer and innovator in chemical dependency and dual diagnosis treatment based on the medical model and 12-step program participation. Brighton Hospital is a fully licensed and accredited sub-acute care hospital and is staffed by addiction-medicine physicians and addiction-credentialed clinicians. Both inpatient and outpatient treatment models are offered at Brighton Hospital. Brighton Hospital is located at 12851 Grand River Road, in Brighton Michigan. For more information contact 1.877.976.2371 or visit brightonhospital.org.
