Northwell, Engel Burman approved to build residential substance abuse treatment facility in Calverton

CALVERTON, N.Y., March 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Northwell Health and the Engel Burman Group, a developer of The Bristal Assisted Living Communities, have partnered to build a state-of-the-art residential facility for substance abuse disorder in Calverton, N.Y.

Following a comprehensive review and study, the joint venture received site plan approval on March 6 from the Town of Riverhead to construct six buildings on 40 acres in the hamlet of Calverton. Construction on the multi-million dollar facility is expected to begin this May with an estimated completion by late 2019.

The 80-bed residential facility will combine the latest in addiction research, including brain imaging and other neuroscience tools, along with alternative treatments and care.

Pioneering efforts
"We intend to make this facility a center for addiction research and treatment together, which is the first of its kind in this country attached to a major health system," said Jonathan Morgenstern, PhD, director of substance abuse services at Northwell Health. "Having patients down the hall from researchers is very rare in addiction treatment centers."

Northwell will incorporate clinical and academic resources from the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, and Zucker Hillside Hospital and South Oaks Hospital, two Northwell-run psychiatric facilities that specialize in substance abuse services.  

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services has issued three separate licenses to the facility to provide 20 beds for detox in a medically stabilized unit, 40 beds for residential treatment for patients who will stay for an average of 30 days, and 20 beds for extended aftercare.

Standing against the Opioid Epidemic 
"We're in the midst of an opioid epidemic of chilling proportions," said Andrew Drazan, an Engel Burman partner in this venture. "The statistics speak for themselves. Over five hundred Long Islanders died in 2017 from opioids. There is not a single one of us who does not know some family that has been harmed by this scourge. This facility will help fill a major gap in substance abuse treatment in our community." 

While based on Long Island, Mr. Drazan expects the facility will draw patients from throughout the region and the country, given the national reputation of its staff and the clinical and research capabilities of the new center.

The joint venture will also include the creation of four outpatient facilities in leased facilities located in Nassau, Suffolk, Manhattan and Westchester. 

Remote 24/7 access for patients 
As part of its clinical offerings, the joint venture will also develop a digital platform, which will include remote access to a recovery coach and counselor, and an app for patients to access resources when needed.

"We will continue to follow our clients even after they've completed their treatment, so we'll have outcome information on them for years to come to track their long-term progress," said Dr. Morgenstern. "Because we're starting this program from scratch, we can employ the best evidence-based medicine and the latest technologies that are available, recognizing that recovery is a complicated and long-term process."

About Northwell Health
Northwell Health is New York State's largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, about 650 outpatient facilities and nearly 15,000 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 66,000 employees – 15,000-plus nurses and 4,000 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We're making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.

About Engel Burman
The Engel Burman Group is a leading real estate developer, based on Long Island, with properties throughout the tri-state area. Engel Burman's portfolio is impressive, with commercial, residential, industrial, and retail properties built, owned, developed, and managed by the company. It includes some of the area's most known and respected development brands, perhaps most notably, The Bristal Assisted Living communities & The Seasons Active Adult communities. The Engel Burman Group continues to anticipate, adapt, and advance - redefining the industry.

Contacts: Diane O'Donnell/Northwell
516-321-6707/6701
[email protected] 
Gary Lewi/Engel Burman
212-4889-6900 
[email protected]

SOURCE Northwell Health