FAQ

6. How are my prescribed medications managed and will I be given my prescribed medications during my inpatient treatment stay? Sunrise Centre has a medical team that consists of nursing staff, a Doctoral Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, and a Medical Director. Our medical team works hard to support the short term needs and stabilization of our inpatient residents. Clients that come in on certain medications are maintained on those prescribed medications if safe and supported by our prescribing doctors. Sunrise Centre does not dispense controlled substances and is not able to maintain clients on benzodiazepine medications or opioid pain medications so those medications are not to be brought to Sunrise Centre as they will not be dispensed here. If a client is prescribed medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder such as buprenorphine, a client will need to bring their active prescription with them and our medical team will maintain the client on that medication during the stay. It is important for clients to engage in ongoing care and medication management with a primary care provider since Sunrise Centre is not a primary care medical practice. We understand that this is often care that has not been attended to for a long time and we will work as a team to help you connect with after-care appointments and establish primary care following your completion of inpatient treatment. Our case management services are very helpful in exploring and helping to set up this care during your stay. The prescribing doctors on staff at Sunrise Centre will do their best to evaluate what medications will support a person’s medical and psychiatric needs and stability during the inpatient stay and will work with a client with safety as the top priority. Nursing staff will attempt to coordinate care with a client’s other providers to support continuity. Due to the length of an inpatient stay, the physiological impact of discontinuing substances of abuse, post- acute withdrawal, and the fact that Sunrise Centre is not a client’s primary health care provider, it is important to know that stability takes time and this is not a hospital setting that can make or will make changes to medication instantly unless an emergent need supports that change. Newly prescribed medications do take time to work so it is also important for clients to understand those processes and communicate with nursing staff about needs. If a medical need cannot be safely managed in the inpatient program, Sunrise Centre will help a client explore a higher level of care or may send the client to the hospital if a safety issue is present.