Medical Care
Our dedicated medical staff offers a wide range of medical care for patients in recovery. Both our Staff Physician and Director of Nursing are on-site full-time. Our full-time Vice President of Treatment Services/Medical Director is a board certified psychiatrist and addiction psychiatry specialist. The nursing team consists of over 20 nurses, the majority of which are addiction certified, who provide around-the-clock patient care.
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Detoxification
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Medically assisted and monitored detoxification is available for patients who arrive to treatment in need of detox services. Medications are administered based on medical and nursing assessments according to patients’ individual needs. Benzodiazepines are used for treating alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal, and buprenorphine (Suboxone®) is given with other medications for opiate withdrawal. When a complication of withdrawal occurs that cannot be treated on site, such as delirium tremens, a patient will be transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment and then returned to Ashley when stable.
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Medical Assessment
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Following detox, individual medical assessments determine the appropriate use of anti-craving drugs for each patient. We are supportive of anti-craving drugs such as varenicline (Chantix®), naltrexone (Revia), acamprosate (Campral®), and naltrexone XR injections (Vivitrol®). We also prescribe disulfiram (Antabuse) if appropriate.
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All patients undergo a medical assessment during the intake process, which allows the nursing and medical staff to evaluate each patient’s medical status and needs. Continuing medical assessment, care and treatment are administered as needed throughout treatment.
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Co-occurring Conditions
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We treat patients whose primary illness is alcohol or drug addiction, and whose health conditions do not prohibit them from being ambulatory or participating in the treatment program. Because of our extensive and highly trained staff, physical and psychiatric medical care is available to all patients in treatment when required.
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We can treat patients with relatively stable psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and personality disorders. Patients with eating disorders that are not active or compromising their medical status can also be managed. Non-emergent medical problems like hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, upper respiratory infections, rashes, non-disabling pain that does not require opiate medications and pancreatitis are monitored and treated on-site during a patient’s stay. We are not able to treat patients with medical problems that would otherwise require hospitalization.
Click here for a list of drugs and substances for which Ashley provides detoxification and treatment services.
Medical Staff
Bernadette Solounias, M.D.
Vice President of Treatment Services, Medical Director
Dr. Solounias joined Ashley in 1995. She was previously associated with the Division of Drug and Alcohol Abuse at University of Maryland Hospital, where she directed the Alcohol and Drug Consultation Service, and also taught medical students and psychiatric resident physicians.
Dr. Solounias is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the Maryland Psychiatric Society. She is a speaker on the topics of dual diagnosis and women and addictions.
She earned her medical degree at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and did her residency in psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Her undergraduate and master's degrees are in nutrition from Cornell University. She is board certified in psychiatry and also certified in the subspecialty of addiction psychiatry.
Howard Williams, M.D.
Staff Physician
Dr. Howard Williams has been at Ashley full-time since 2001. He is an Emeritus Staff member at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and was awarded the Medical Housestaff of the Year Award (1984-1985) at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Williams completed two medical internships, in general surgery and internal medicine, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He did his residency in ophthalmology at Greater Baltimore Medical Center from 1987-1990.
He received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, with his undergraduate degree from Duke University.
Charlotte Meck, RN, BA, CARN
Director of Nursing
As the Director, she is responsible for the organization, coordination, and administration of the Nursing and Program Service Assistant Departments. In collaboration with her team she promotes excellence in the quality of care, enhances staff development and ensures efficient operations.
Charlotte has over 30 years of clinical & administrative experience. Prior to joining Father Martin’s Ashley in 2001 she held leadership positions in Emergency and Surgical services. She is experienced in quality improvement and has successfully led quality improvement teams that have won national recognition.
Charlotte is a member of the International Nurses Society on Addictions and is certified in Addictions Nursing. |
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The medical team examines each patient upon intake to assess medical status and co-occurring disorders. The nurses and on-site physician then monitor and treat conditions as needed throughout the patient’s time at Ashley. |
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