The First Call
During this conversation, we listen and learn.
We find out who you are, why you’re calling, and determine whether Pinnacle offers a program that meets your needs. We understand the importance of this moment. Our admissions specialists are here to help. They’re ready to answer all your questions and help you find the right treatment in the right location.
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We want you to understand that during this first call, things can get very personal right away. We encourage you to be ready to be honest on a level that rarely happens with a person you’ve never met. You might tell our admissions counselors things you’ve never told anyone before, ever. Here’s some inside knowledge: that happens a lot during addiction treatment.
Our admissions team will ask questions like:
Are you in crisis right now?
If so, what’s happening?
Are you calling about an issue with alcohol or with drugs?
If you’re calling about a drug problem, what drug?
How long have you been using?
How much of the drug do you use?
How often do you drink or use drugs?
Have you ever tried to quit before?
Have you been in treatment before?
If so, where and for how long?
Once we get an idea about what’s going on with you, it’s time for a decision:
Are you ready for treatment?
If you’re ready, we move to the next step in the process.
Pre-Admission Check
This typically takes 15-20 minutes.
During this step, we move to practical questions. We need to verify your insurance coverage, confirm your location, determine which location is the best fit, and formulate a plan to get you into treatment as soon as you’re ready. While we’re on the phone, we access our professional insurance portal and work to maximize your available benefits. We understand the ins and outs of insurance and match your level of coverage with your level of need and find a program that’s right for you.
At this point, the conversation will go more quickly if you have these things on hand:
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- Driver’s License.
- Medical documents.
- Insurance information.
- Any relevant legal documents.
If you don’t have those, don’t worry. We can work with you. With your name and information you provide, we can contact your insurance provider and begin the verification process immediately. We have working relationships with most major insurance companies, but if you don’t have insurance, don’t panic – you can still get treatment. We have several payment options, including self-payment plans with a reasonable deposit. We assess and accept self-payment plans on a patient-by-patient basis.
In some cases – even if you don’t have insurance – we can have you in treatment within an hour of the moment you pick up the phone. Call 1 (800) 782-1520 to get started.
Intake and Admissions
24/7/365 Policy. We admit patients at any time, day or night, every day of the year.
When you arrive at a Pinnacle Treatment location, a member of our staff will be ready and waiting to meet you. The details of your intake and admission depend on the time you arrive, the location of your treatment center, and your level of care. For instance, the process for patients entering residential/inpatient treatment is different than for patients entering twice-a-week outpatient treatment, and the process for patients starting an Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) is different than for patients entering Partial Hospitalization or Intensive Outpatient Treatment.
Our admissions team will put you in contact with the right staff at the right location to go over the details specific to your treatment program.
Read More About the Intake Process After Admission
However, intake and admission into any Pinnacle Treatment program includes:
- In-Person Physical Exam. This is a thorough physical assessment performed by a licensed medical professional. We record vital signs, collect blood and urine samples, confirm any existing medical conditions and medications you take, and verify your current state of physical health matches what’s indicated on the medical records you provide. The goal of this physical exam is to ensure the level of care you’re entering is medically appropriate and matches the level of coverage your insurance provides.
- In-Person Mental Health Assessment. This is a thorough mental health screening administered by a licensed mental health professional. This is our chance to learn more about you and your unique circumstances than we can learn over the phone or by checking your blood pressure and heart rate. A member of our clinical staff will confirm you’re at the appropriate level of care, psychologically and emotionally ready to receive the treatment that best meets your needs.
- Orientation. A member of the Pinnacle staff will provide you with a welcome packet and walk you through our policies and procedures. Residential patients will tour their facility and see where they’ll eat, sleep, spend down-time, and receive treatment. Patients at all levels of care will receive specific details relevant to their level of care.
Your Recovery Begins
Once all the practical questions are asked and answered, it’s time to start treatment.
In some cases, you’ll join a group or one-on-one counseling session right away. In other cases, you have time to take a deep breath, exhale, and realize you’ve taken what might be the most important step in your life: the first step toward healing and recovery. In every case, you can find comfort in the knowledge you’re surrounded by dedicated and compassionate professionals committed to one thing: your total health and recovery.
