Prelude Behavioral Services, Eastern Iowa

ABOUT PRELUDE BEHAVIORAL SERVICES – IOWA CITY

Prelude Behavioral Services is a behavioral health organization that provides substance misuse and mental health treatment services through nine facilities located in central and eastern Iowa. Formerly known as MECCA, this location in Iowa City offers comprehensive residential and outpatient programming for individuals struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Detox services are also available on-site.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

According to Prelude's website, the length of stay required for detox depends upon each individual’s history of use and other medical issues. A 2017 SAMHSA survey indicates that 4.9 percent of rehabs in Iowa offer detox in an outpatient setting and 4.3 percent offer it in a residential setting.

Prelude's highly personalized evidence-based residential treatment, available to adults, aims to treat both substance misuse and any co-occurring mental health concerns, such as depression or anxiety, according to the center’s website. The length of stay varies based on each client's needs and typically lasts between 20 to 40 days.

Outpatient programming is available for adults, adolescents, and families. In outpatient treatment, clients work with assigned counselors and have access to individual and group sessions that focus on various topics. Additionally, Prelude offers gambling addiction treatment, a service offered by 35.6 percent of rehabs in Iowa.

Prelude also offers case management, continuing care, transitional housing, and drug testing. Other behavioral health services are offered next door to the main treatment center at a facility called Synchrony.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

Prelude's website notes that its clinical teams (including at facilities outside of Iowa City) consist of physicians, licensed nurses, certified substance abuse counselors, recovery assistants, licensed social workers, prevention specialists, and licensed mental health counselors.

Prelude's facilities are among the 62 rehabs in Iowa (38 percent of all facilities in the state) certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

Though information on living arrangements and related amenities is currently limited, two individuals surveyed by Rehabs.com to date gave mostly positive ratings to relevant categories, including three out of fives stars for exercise and leisure options and five stars for the facility's cleanliness.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

Three out of four alumni surveyed by Rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided positive reviews. All three noted that they would recommend the center, giving four- or five-star (out of five) ratings for the facility's connectivity, cleanliness of the facility, and its affordability.

Alum T.L. was appreciative of the "supportive" staff, and alum S.S. indicated that the facility gave them the "tools to get back on track" after a relapse. Former client M.A.G. spoke highly of her experience. "They keep you busy, in groups all day."

These three alumni did, however, give mixed reviews of the center's 12-step facilitation, holistic offerings, experience of the staff, and treatment of co-occurring disorders. A fourth alum, S.D., gave a highly negative review, writing: "You get what you pay for. Facilities are in disrepair and dirty, not enough counselors and is a center for younger and court appointed people." On Google, the facility holds an average rating of 3.6 out of five stars based on 34 reviews to date.^[1]

WHAT STAFF SAY

The one staff member polled by Rehabs.com to date left positive feedback, noting they would recommend the center to friends and family. “I feel the counselors are very good about working with clients where they are in their individual motivation to change / enter recovery,” they wrote.

To date, reviews from other employees on third-party sites were also generally positive. On Indeed, several of the eight reviewers praised the staff and the treatment of clients.^[2] "Great coworkers, great work environment, great clients," a registered nurse wrote anonymously in a representative review. On Glassdoor, five of six reviewers offered similar feedback.^[2] Several reviewers on these sites, however, did criticize the management.

FINANCING

Prelude accepts private insurance, Medicaid, and self-pay. Financial assistance is also available for those who qualify. Financial staff are on-hand to help determine insurance coverage and coordinate payment plans. According to the facility's website, individuals seeking gambling addiction treatment may qualify for some free treatment services.

^[1] GoogleReviews
^[2] https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Prelude-Behavioral-Services/reviews?fcountry=US&floc=Iowa+City%2C+IA
^[3] https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Prelude-Behavioral-Services-Reviews-E862665.htm