In her 15 years dealing with chronic pain and addiction to prescription painkillers, Cindy Tschekalin has been through a lot of clinics.
“As soon as I mentioned I was in recovery, I was treated very poorly,” she said.
Through positive word of mouth she heard about the VitaHeal Medical Clinic, located on Cedar Street near the downtown bus terminal, and decided to give it a shot.
Dr. Raj Vorha told Sudbury.com he opened the clinic in January 2015 to provide a space for patients dealing with chronic pain and addiction that differed from the impersonal spaces he had seen throughout his career. People line up to get their medication, and then they're out — there's no follow up and above all, little caring. He wanted to do something differently.
For Tschekalin, the clinic offered that difference, something unlike any other experience she had in the 15 years prior.
“You go in there and they treat you like people. They treat you with compassion and dignity,” Tschekalin said. “I've never seen any other clinic like this. It's a wonderful place.”
Unlike many other clinics that focus on pain management and addiction, VitaHeal encourages patients to bring their families, including their children, so they can be a part of their recovery.
“We want them to feel that this is a safe space to come to. It's almost like a community outreach,” said Michelle Salvati, the clinic's office manager.
Salvati said their patients face a lot of stigma, even though as many as 70 per cent of them became addicted to opioids after a physician prescribed them to manage chronic pain.
“We hear every day that patients don't want to go to other locations,” she said. “They won't seek help when they desperately need it because they are stigmatized. They feel like nobody cares.
“I know for me personally, I don't see an addiction. I see a person. I see everything else around them.”
Because the holiday season can be especially difficult for some patients, VitaHeal has started a new initiative to help brighten their days.
Clinic supervisor Katie Schwedhelm spearheaded VitaHeal's 12 Days of Christmas this year.
The 12 Days of Christmas started Dec. 7 and will conclude on Dec. 22 (only weekdays are counted).
Staff have decorated the office for the Christmas season, and are hosting a number of different events throughout the 12 days. Friday they are hosting a men's night with a game of water pong, for instance.
The clinic also has an ongoing colouring contest for clients' children, and the winners will get Avengers and Frozen-themed gift packages.
Salvati said they plan to have a big Christmas party on the last day, complete with pizza, treats and small gifts for the patients.
She said Dr. Vohra, has been a strong supporter of the initiative, and has set aside some funds to help cover the costs for the party and gifts.
“We're going to end it with a big bang,” she said.
