Our Approach to Care
The Women’s Health Addictions Program is dedicated to helping opiate-dependent women, especially those who are pregnant, overcome drug addiction. The program follows an office-based medication-assisted treatment model, which combines medication and counseling to provide patients with the tools they need to stay drug-free.
Our staff
The program is staffed with highly-trained clinicians, including two board-certified OB/GYN physicians.
The program is coordinated by a full-time registered nurse experienced in caring for pregnant women.
- Byron Calhoun, MD, FACOG, ASAM, MBA – maternal/fetal specialist; board-certified in OB/GYN and addiction medicine
- Paul Dietz, MD – board-certified in OB/GYN
- Jennifer DePond, MSN, RN – program coordinator
- Ashley Murphy, LCSW – substance abuse and mental health counselor
What to expect in the program
Our program is a structured medication assisted program offered with the goal of abstinence, not maintenance. Once a patient is enrolled in the program, she will have regular medical evaluations and frequent urine screens. Our patients will attend weekly group therapy sessions and monthly individual counseling at the CAMC Family Resource Center (FRC) to help them through the process.
Medication
A program physician will prescribe Suboxone (or Subutex for pregnant women). The dosage will be steadily decreased until the patient can completely go off the medicine.
Education
The FRC provides information about neonatal abstinence syndrome, tobacco cessation, domestic violence, health screenings and more.
Insurance coverage
The program is covered by most insurance providers, including Medicaid. If you have any questions about eligibility, feel free to contact our office at (304) 388-2427.
Post-delivery services
CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital is the first freestanding women and children’s hospital in the state, and our Level-IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is right across the hall from the labor and delivery unit. The NICU has 24/7 neonatologist coverage, and our staff is experienced in caring for NAS babies (babies going through withdrawal).
