17 July 2015

Total Health Care is adding a longtime substance abuse center in the Sandtown-Winchester community under its umbrella of community health centers.

The Baltimore-based federally-funded entity joined with board members of Tuerk House Friday to announce their plans to merge. By combining resources, the health care organizations hope they will be able to provide more comprehensive substance abuse treatment to addicts.

"It will allow us to provide care in a way that is unprecedented and groundbreaking," said Faye Royale-Larkins, the chief executive officer of Total Health Care. "Our vision is to treat the whole person and not just the addiction."

The deal will allow for better coordination of primary care, addiction counseling and mental health counseling. While Total Health Care already provides substance abuse services it is all outpatient, Tuerk House does not offer general medical care — just drug and alcohol treatment. Under the agreement, a primary care physician, physicians assistant or nurse could be housed at Tuerk House.

Many Total Health Care and Tuerk House patients already overlap and the new agreement would make the process easier, executives with both organizations said.

"It really will make it seamless for the client," Royale-Larkins said.

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