For many people struggling with addiction, the first days of withdrawal have long meant emergency room visits and fragmented care—but McAlister Institute’s new onsite Incidental Medical Services (IMS) at its Lemon Grove Residential Treatment Campus is set to change that.
The initiative allows clients entering McAlister’s Adult Detox, Kiva Women and Children’s Learning Center, Kiva Detox, and New Connections programs to receive medically supervised withdrawal care without leaving the facility. The change is designed to stabilize clients quickly, reduce disruptions, and improve continuity during a critical point in treatment.
“Without IMS, those clients often had to be sent to emergency departments or outside urgent care settings for even basic withdrawal support,” said Michelle Zvirzin, McAlister Institute’s chief programs officer. “This created delays, increased risk, fragmented care, and, in some cases, resulted in clients leaving treatment before stabilization.”
When withdrawal support is provided onsite, clients remain in a familiar, trauma-informed environment, reducing stress and unnecessary exposure to emergency systems. “Instead of being transported to an ER—where they may wait for hours, be retraumatized, or leave before receiving help—they remain in a calm, supportive environment where they are known, safe, and engaged in care,” Zvirzin said.
At the Lemon Grove campus, clients now receive a medical assessment on their first day to determine withdrawal needs. Services include ongoing symptom monitoring, medication-assisted treatment when appropriate, guidance on self-administered medications, and coordination between medical staff and residential counselors.
“IMS operates alongside our residential model,” Zvirzin said. “Clients still receive groups, counseling, education, and care coordination, but now with medical oversight fully integrated into their routine.”
By reducing preventable emergency visits and unnecessary transfers, the model also eases strain on the broader healthcare system.
For more information on McAlister Institute and its programs, visit www.mcalisterinc.org.
