Enterhealth, a Dallas-based drug and alcohol addiction treatment company, is expanding the medical rehab operation at its Enterhealth Ranch residential treatment facility in Van Alstyne, north of Dallas. The $1 million expansion and upgrades will further improve the facility’s ability to provide a comfortable and secure environment for those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, a chronic brain disease. Upon completion in early 2016, the 38-bed Enterhealth Ranch will offer 2,000 more square feet in its main house and additional private therapy offices in a separate building. Enterhealth also operates the Enterhealth Outpatient Center of Excellence in Dallas.
“We treat addiction in a way that necessitates the staff and operations required of both a therapy and medical facility,” said David Kniffen, Jr., president and co-founder of Enterhealth. “We combine appropriate medical and psychological protocols that are grounded in the latest NIH research to deliver a unique program that personalizes plans for each patient. This facility expansion allows us to increase this proven approach to accommodate the growth we’ve experienced over the last decade from our original 16 beds to our current 38.”
The expansion at the main house will create efficiencies that maintain the boutique feel of Enterhealth Ranch. A new medical wing will include a nurse’s station, consultation area, private restroom for drug and patient testing, area for blood draws and nursing procedures, as well as a new doctor’s office and director of nursing office. Other upgrades to help staff better serve patients are an admissions room, conference room, public restroom, and expanded laundry services.
Enterhealth is also renovating its therapist offices, located near the main house. These changes will increase the number of private therapy offices, allowing more opportunities for the community to provide a comfortable and secure therapy environment. Upgrades will also be made in culinary operations to help accommodate more clients and serve large outside groups the community hosts for events, such as families, clinicians earning CEUs, and other industry partners.
“Nearly ten years ago, we decided to take an approach to addiction rehab that has helped Enterhealth patients realize success in recovery three times as often as the exclusive ‘talk therapies’ being offered through most addiction programs,” added Kniffen. “This investment in our facility is an investment in ensuring more of our patients and their families can continue to access the same joy of that success in a comfortable and accessible setting.”
To the founders, the company has never been a business; it’s a labor of love, said Kniffen. After two close friends tragically lost children to alcohol addiction, David Kniffen Sr. and David Kniffen Jr. made it their personal mission to give back to the community by helping others overcome their addiction struggles. They quickly learned the treatment industry had not progressed past the original 1930s twelve-step program, which failed over 80 percent of the time. They were shocked that a program could post such poor results, and still enjoy such widespread adoption. In addition, many facilities were charging tens of thousands of dollars for the same treatment that could be had for free in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings across the country.
As successful entrepreneurs, they took it upon themselves to find a better way. In the spring of 2006, a team consisting of some of the world’s most renowned and experienced addiction treatment experts was pulled together to do just that. Starting with the latest National Institutes of Health research indicating addiction is a chronic brain disease – one that can be successfully treated utilizing appropriate medical and psychological protocols – the team created a unique program that would lead to personalized plans for each patient, and yield results that were at least three times more effective than traditional programs.