The U.S. healthcare system is bracing for a surge in patients due to the coronavirus, and projections from Harvard University suggest there may not be enough hospital beds to treat everyone who becomes seriously ill. This looming shortage has prompted concern about rationing care, particularly for those requiring acute hospital services. In response, the Recovery Centers of America (RCA) has proposed an innovative plan to relieve pressure on hospitals while continuing to provide essential addiction treatment services.
Addressing Hospital Capacity Challenges
RCA, a King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based provider of behavioral health services, operates seven inpatient and ten outpatient facilities across Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. With financial support from Deerfield Management Company, RCA is leveraging its existing infrastructure to assist overwhelmed hospitals. The organization has pitched a pick-up program aimed at transferring patients suffering from addiction from acute care hospitals to RCA facilities, thereby freeing up beds for COVID-19 patients.
CEO Brian O’Neill described the initiative, saying, “We have offered a pick-up arrangement where we can go into all these hospitals, take the patients suffering from addiction and bring them to our hospital, where we can treat addiction and free up acute hospital beds.”
Positive Reception from State Officials
RCA has proactively reached out to governors in the four states where it operates, offering support and resources to manage hospital capacity. O’Neill noted that the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, with officials expressing a strong willingness to collaborate. “So far the response is unanimous: ‘We can take all the help we can get,’” O’Neill said. While formal agreements are still in development, early feedback indicates that RCA’s program could play a significant role in alleviating hospital stress during the COVID-19 crisis.
Addiction Treatment as an Essential Service
Behavioral health facilities, including RCA, are classified as essential services, allowing them to continue operations amid widespread business closures. This is particularly important given the link between social isolation and increased addiction risk. O’Neill explained, “Those patients are having acute events — overdoses, alcohol poisoning, and alcohol withdrawal — and going to the hospital, which is clogging up emergency rooms and consuming hospital beds that are needed to treat COVID-19.”
By maintaining open facilities, RCA not only ensures continuity of care for patients with substance use disorders (SUD) but also supports the broader healthcare system by reducing the burden on hospitals.
Implementing Safety Protocols
RCA has implemented stringent safety measures to protect patients and staff. Facilities are following enhanced cleaning protocols, conducting pre-entry screenings, and adjusting operational procedures to comply with public health recommendations. For outpatient services, telehealth has become an integral component, allowing clinicians to continue treatment while minimizing the risk of exposure. Group therapy sessions have been temporarily paused, with online resources and virtual alternatives provided in their place.
Anticipating Increased Demand
Although RCA’s current patient census remains stable, the organization anticipates a surge in demand for addiction services in the coming weeks. O’Neill explained that closures of gyms, restaurants, and other social outlets contribute to heightened stress, which can exacerbate substance use disorders. Hospitals and law enforcement agencies have already reported increases in addiction-related emergencies, indicating that behavioral health providers may see a parallel uptick in patients seeking care.
Expanding Testing Capabilities
In addition to the pick-up program, RCA is supporting COVID-19 testing efforts through its sister company, Genetworx, a genetic testing provider. Recognizing the nationwide shortage of tests, Genetworx has ramped up operations to provide up to 1,000 tests per day initially, with plans to expand to 4,000 tests daily — equivalent to 120,000 tests per month. The tests offer a 24-hour turnaround, and RCA is coordinating with state officials to prioritize testing for hospitals, medical facilities, and its own patients.
O’Neill emphasized the importance of this effort, stating, “We’ve gone out to the governors in all the states where we do business, and we’re offering to provide testing services for hospitals and other medical establishments to help them work through their backlog in testing, as well as the testing we do for our own facilities.”
Coordinated Approach to Patient Care
RCA’s strategy exemplifies a coordinated approach to patient care that integrates addiction treatment with broader public health objectives. By transferring patients from hospital emergency rooms to specialized behavioral health facilities, RCA helps ensure that hospitals can focus on treating COVID-19 patients while patients with addiction receive timely, specialized care in a safer environment.
The initiative also highlights the importance of flexibility and innovation in behavioral health care delivery during a public health crisis. RCA’s willingness to collaborate with state officials and hospitals underscores the vital role that private behavioral health providers can play in supporting the healthcare system during emergencies.
The Role of Telehealth
Telehealth has become a critical component of RCA’s operations during the pandemic. By offering virtual consultations and therapy sessions, RCA reduces the risk of virus exposure for both patients and staff while maintaining continuity of care. The expansion of telehealth services has been particularly effective for outpatient facilities, where appointment no-shows have increased due to patient concerns about COVID-19.
Telehealth also allows RCA to reach patients who might otherwise have difficulty accessing in-person services, including those in rural areas or under quarantine. This remote approach ensures that behavioral health treatment remains accessible and effective despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Preparing for the Future
RCA’s proactive approach provides a model for other behavioral health providers looking to support the healthcare system during COVID-19. By combining pick-up programs, enhanced safety protocols, telehealth services, and testing capabilities, RCA is helping to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on hospitals while continuing to deliver essential addiction treatment services.
O’Neill emphasized the need for preparedness, stating, “Any surge in addiction-related emergencies will be felt in hospitals first, but behavioral health providers like us can help absorb some of that demand and keep patients safe while also ensuring hospital beds are available for COVID-19 patients.”
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in the U.S. healthcare system, including limited hospital capacity and an increased need for behavioral health services. Recovery Centers of America has responded with a comprehensive plan that leverages its resources, expertise, and partnerships to address these challenges.
Through its pick-up program, telehealth services, and COVID-19 testing initiatives, RCA demonstrates the critical role that behavioral health providers play in supporting hospitals and ensuring patient care continuity during a public health emergency. By coordinating with state officials, hospitals, and other stakeholders, RCA is helping to reduce strain on the healthcare system while continuing to deliver high-quality addiction treatment services to those in need.
As the pandemic evolves, programs like RCA’s pick-up initiative may become increasingly vital, showcasing how innovation, collaboration, and flexibility in behavioral health care can save lives and strengthen the broader healthcare system.
The approach not only addresses immediate hospital capacity concerns but also highlights the importance of maintaining access to essential addiction treatment services during a crisis, ultimately supporting both patient outcomes and public health.
