8/1/2005 - Canoga Park, California - Aegis Medical Systems, Inc. is proud to announce the approval of a new protocol allowing for extended detoxification of patients up to 180 days. Udi Barkai, President and C.E.O. stated that, “The new protocol is filling a necessary gap in our scope of services, and treatment. It will allow recovering addicts to be treated in an NTP for a limited, however reasonable period of time.”
Until recently, California restricted detoxification programs to a twenty-one (21) day period, leaving patients with methadone maintenance programs as their only other viable option. This was true despite a large body of research and clinical experience that showed an extremely low rate of success for the twenty-one (21) day detoxification protocol.
Aegis advocated for the approval of a Long-Term Detox Protocol through regulation, as well as its participation in clinical research, which suggested that 21-Day Detoxification programs provided insufficient time for the necessary behavioral changes required for successful recovery.
The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Program’s (ADP) approval of extended detoxification protocols is consistent with a nationwide trend toward bringing Replacement Therapy (a.k.a. methadone maintenance) in line with “mainstream” medicine. It helps ensure that physicians have the last say in the prescription of treatment services to their patients.
For further information on Aegis Medical Systems, Inc. please visit
www.aegismed.com.
Aegis Medical Systems, Inc., operates the largest chain of narcotic treatment programs (“NTPs”) in California. Headquartered in Canoga Park, Aegis has 26 clinics throughout the state serving over 5,500 patients per day. For the last five years, Aegis has been pursuing a proactive agenda geared towards raising clinical standards and regulatory compliance, through reinforcement of its unique philosophy and organizational culture. Aegis’ 2003 Budget allocated significant resources to the following: training of its 300 employees; development of new and more effective treatment policies, protocols and procedures; participation in pharmaceutical and behavioral research studies with other leading institutions as well as expansion of its Scope of Practice to address various medical, mental and socio-economic needs of its patients. The Aegis Family of Corporations includes Aegis Medical Systems, Inc., Aegis Institute, Inc. (a non-profit organization), and Nationwide Medical Group, Inc. (a professional corporation).
Contact Person(s):
Loanne Rudinger
Aegis Medical Systems, Inc.
(818) 206-0360