Claresholm Centre for Addiction & Mental Health

Referral/Admissions Process

How to Make a Referral

There are 3 processes available to refer patients for admissions to the Claresholm Centre for Addiction & Mental Health including:

Active Rehabilitation and Extended Treatment Unit Referrals

1.      Referral Assessment Team Application - for Calgary zone referral

          Referrals may be made by:
          1.  Physician's Orders (accompanied by referral letter)

          2.  Verbal Request

          3.  Independent Case Review

*Independent Case Review refers to those individuals that Claresholm Referral Assessment Team identifies as potential rehabilitative patients when conducting rounds and/or visits to Inpatient units

•          In order for Claresholm Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to process a referral, please fax the Referral Application attention: Admissions Coordinator at (403) 625-3051 or contact the Admissions Coordinator at (403) 682-3527. To download and print a copy of the Referral Application form, please click here.

      All Applications will be processed through admissions at the Claresholm Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

•          On-site assessments are scheduled based on referral and at the earliest availability of the Claresholm Referral Assessment Team.

2.      Referral Application

Out-of-zone health teams, family physicians, and Alberta Health Services staff can complete the Referral Application and fax to the Admissions Coordinator at (403) 625-3051.

 To download and print a copy of the Referral Application form, please click here.

*Please Note: Referring providers from health zones outside of the Calgary Health Zone should contact the Centre’s Admissions Coordinator at (403) 682-3527 for patients being referred to rehabilitation services. 

Concurrent Disorders Unit Referrals

3.      Admissions Process/Application

• The minimum length of a Concurrent Disorders Residential Program stay will be 3 weeks, with a maximum stay of 6 months.

Admissions Criteria

Active Rehabilitation and Extended Treatment Programs

·         Primary Axis I diagnosis

·         Adults ages 18 and over

·         Ability to function in an open, integrated community setting

·         Potential for skill development supporting increased independence

·         Demonstrate a willingness to participate and engage in programming

Concurrent Disorders Program

Opiate Dependence and Chronic Pain

The criteria for admission includes:

• Adults with chronic pain and addiction

• Willingness to change - amenable to progressive withdrawal/tapering and appropriate use of medication

• Medically stable as indicated by a physical examination within the previous 3 month period

• Not acutely psychiatrically unstable at time of admission

• Able to operate in an open, integrated community setting

• Need for stable recovery environment

• Referral source is willing to follow up after discharge

Benzodiazepine Dependence and Anxiety Disorder

The criteria for admission includes:

• Adults with chronic benzodiazepine dependence with an anxiety disorder

• Willingness to change – amenable to progressive withdrawal/tapering and appropriate use of medication

• Medically stable as indicated by a physical examination within the previous 3 month period

• Not acutely psychiatrically unstable at time of admission

• Able to operate in an open, integrated community setting

• Need for stable recovery environment

• Referral source is willing to follow up after discharge