Omega Centre Fort Myers
(239) 489-4705
8695 College Parkway
Suite 2258
Fort Myers FL 33919

Rehab Locator

Mix of mental health and substance abuse services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment
Type of Care: Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups: DUI/DWI offenders

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a partial agonist of opioid receptors that carries a low risk of overdose. Buprenorphine reduces or eliminates withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid dependence but does not produce the euphoria and sedation caused by heroin or other opioids. In 2000, Congress passed the Drug Addiction Treatment Act, allowing qualified physicians to prescribe Schedule III, IV and V medications for the treatment of opioid addiction. This bill created a major paradigm shift that allowed access to opioid treatment in general medical settings, such as primary care offices, rather than limiting it to specialized treatment clinics. Buprenorphine was the first medication approved under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act and is available in two formulations: Subutex®, which is a pure form of buprenorphine and the more commonly prescribed Suboxone®, which is a combination of buprenorphine and the opioid antagonist naloxone. Suboxone is a unique formulation with naloxone that causes severe withdrawal symptoms when addicted individuals inject it to get high. Physicians who provide buprenorphine treatment for detoxification and or maintenance treatment in office must have special accreditation. The government requires these physicians to have the capacity to provide counseling to patients when indicated or to refer patients to those who do. Treatment of opioid addiction in an office can be cost-effective approach that increases the reach of treatment and the options available to patients. Many patients have life circumstances that make treatment in the office of a physician a better option for than specialty clinics. For example, a recovering addict may live far away from a treatment center or have working hours incompatible with the clinic hours. Addiction treatment is available in the office of a primary care physician, psychiatrist and other specialists, such as internists and pediatricians. Patients stabilized on adequate, sustained dosages of methadone or buprenorphine can function normally. Recovering addicts can hold jobs, avoid the crime and violence of the street culture and reduce exposure to HIV by stopping or decreasing injection drug use and other risky sexual behavior. Patients stabilized on medications can also engage more readily in counseling and other behavioral interventions essential to recovery and rehabilitation.

VIP Medicine

VIP Medicine is a type of medical practice now found in many metropolitan areas across the country. VIP Medicine has come to represent a higher level of healthcare for those who want a more personalized relationship with their physician. At the upper echelon are the practice associations, like IPA Health, which integrate the traditional concierge model and match it with an advanced level of diagnostic care and true concierge services. IPA Health members enjoy the benefit of having access to on-site laboratories and the best diagnostic equipment available in medicine today. The ability to make most diagnoses in a single visit saves concierge patients the time of having to return to the office for a follow-up visit. This, in complement with a dedicated Patient Care Concierge and the ability to network and consult online through a patient portal sets the IPA Health model above most other concierge practices found nationwide. VIP Medical services include the following: IPA Health redefines the concept of Concierge Medicine. As a Concierge member, you will be assigned a Patient Care Concierge who will manage all aspects of the IPA Health experience, from transportation and accommodation (if you are coming from out of town), to medical evacuation if you experience a health emergency while traveling. VIP medicine at IPA Health is a healthcare service that is available to all people and is extremely affordable. Finally, a meaningful option for individuals and families seeking personalized attention from their doctor. A doctor can spend as much time with a patient as the patient needs. Wellness and prevention can be as much the center of attention as the immediate problem. The fundamental concept of Medicine Concierge is to bring back the old fashioned medical care. The number of patients are decreased by 90 percent of a conventional medical practice, our physicians are able to spend prolonged visits with our patients, and provide 24/7 physician availability via cell phone and see patients same-day.

Externally Applied Antibiotics

Externally applied antibiotics such as erythromycin, clindamycin, Stievamycin or tetracycline kill the bacteria that grow in the blocked follicles. While topical use of antibiotics is equally as effective as oral use, this method avoids possible side effects including upset stomach and drug interactions (e.g. it will not affect use of the oral contraceptive pill), but may prove awkward to apply over larger areas than just the face alone.