CHICAGO, IL – August 13, 2020 – Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton met with CEO Robert Urso and members of PCC’s leadership team last week to learn about its comprehensive chemical dependency treatment program and the plethora of ancillary services offered to individuals suffering from substance use disorders. “We were very pleased and honored to have Lt. Gov. Stratton at PCC. This was a great opportunity for us to get the word out about the work PCC is doing in an effort to help address the opioid epidemic, as well as for us to share our vision, mission, and programs we have in place to help resolve the social determinants of health in the communities served by PCC,” Robert Urso said, president and CEO of PCC Community Wellness Center.

Surrounded by PCC’s administrators, physicians, and behavioral health consultants from the Chemical Dependency clinic, the in-depth discussion included a complete overview of what happens when a patient first enters the program through the continuum of care. The discussion was led by Dr. Katie McDonough, Medical Director of Chemical Dependency Services at PCC, and Joanna Trask, LCPC, CADC, Manager of Behavioral Health with additional support by CEO Robert Urso; Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Luning; Chief Operating Officer Toni Bush; Jerrard Walker, LCSW, CADC, RN, Director of Behavioral Health.

At the top of the agenda were the overall challenges faced by patients battling a substance use disorder, including mental health and stress associated with COVID-19, and the integrated care offered by PCC to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay. Additionally, discussions included PCC’s mission to improve population health outcomes on the Greater West Side of Chicago through its available programs and services. “Identifying and treating substance use disorders has been a longtime priority for our organization. COVID-19 has only highlighted the important work we are doing at PCC. We have seen first-hand how this pandemic has exacerbated, or in some cases, unveiled substance use disorders within our patient population and the community we serve. Now more than ever, we must recognize the scope of the problem and continue to work with our comprehensive care team to reach as many patients as possible in an effort to prevent additional overdose deaths,” Kathleen McDonough said, medical director of the Chemical Dependency Program at PCC.

PCC’s Chemical Dependency program provides safe treatment for adults with substance use disorders. The goal of the program is to help individuals abstain or decrease their use of heroin, prescription pain medications, alcohol, cigarettes, and other substances through medication assisted treatment and counseling. Services provided by the center include: comprehensive evaluation by a medical provider and behavioral health consultant, medication assisted treatment primarily Suboxone and Vivitrol, comprehensive prenatal care for patients with substance use disorders, individual and group counselling, as well as access to PCC’s dentists, primary care providers, and more.

For more information about the Chemical Dependency Program at PCC, call 708-406-3929, or visit pccwellness.org/ services/behavioral-health/substance-abuse-treatment

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About PCC Community Wellness Center

PCC Community Wellness Center (PCC) is a Federally Qualified Community Health Center with the mission of improving health outcomes for the medically underserved community through the provision of quality, affordable, and accessible primary health care and support services. Anchored with family medicine, PCC is committed to serving the needs of all people in all stages of life.