Primary Health Care Medical – University Avenue

Primary Health Care – University Avenue is a dual diagnosis addiction treatment center in Des Moines, Iowa. Their services include outpatient therapy and psychiatric care as well as medication assisted treatment. They have a number of accreditations and awards, including the Joint Commission Seal of National Quality Approval, accreditation from the Association of Dental Safety, and an award from the Health Resources and Services Administration. They accept most insurances and Medicaid, and they offer a sliding scale for patients that have trouble paying. They will not turn patients away due to inability to pay.

This center is part of a network of primary care and dental providers. They offer a ton of health services for all kinds of ailments, big and small. This includes behavioral health, psychiatry, therapy and addiction services. Patients can speak with physicians on staff about mental health problems and receive medication to treat them. Oftentimes, psychiatric treatment is beneficial for substance use disorder, as addiction can be fueled by co-occurring mental health issues.

This center also offers medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid and alcohol addictions. MAT is a treatment path designed to wean patients off of harmful, addictive substances under medical supervision. Patients undergoing MAT are given medications at a decreasing dose to help them safely kick their dependence.

This center has mostly favorable reviews. Clients mention that the doctors are friendly, the treatment is affordable, and the various methods of care are effective. One issue that seems to be common is trouble with scheduling. Unfortunately, this seems to be an issue with many centers, and it doesn’t reflect all that poorly on this specific clinic.