Providence Holy Family Hospital has started offering a new inpatient treatment program for patients who are experiencing acute withdrawal symptoms from alcohol or drug use.

In May, the hospital launched what are called medical stabilization services for patients recovering from addiction. It will offer the services in partnership with the New Vision program, operated by St. Louis-based SpecialCare Hospital Management Corp.

Holy Family says it plans to dedicate up to five beds to this service in its medical and surgical unit on the third floor of the hospital. The program is aimed at people 18 years of age and older who voluntarily seek help for substance abuse.

Patients in the program stay on average three to five days, and after admission, they receive an assessment to determine a course of treatment. The patients experiencing acute withdrawal symptoms will be stabilized.

Three New Vision employees will coordinate the treatment regimen, including the inpatient care, and those employees will work with Holy Family staff.

New Vision patients also will receive a discharge plan for follow-up treatment.

The overall cost of New Vision services can vary depending on treatment and length of stay, although an average private pay amount is about $5,300. However, New Vision says the services are covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and most insurance plans.