There are so many individuals putting their heart and soul into the work they do in the field of behavioral healthcare. We see it every day. Then there are those who go well above and beyond to help and serve. It’s that kind of extraordinary service that inspired Meadows Behavioral Healthcare to present its inaugural Connections in Caring Award to Brad Sorte, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at Caron Treatment Centers and President and CEO Elect.
“Caron has been a strong ally in our fight against COVID. Brad particularly played a big role in helping fast-track our ability to get the rapid antigen tests through a vendor he had a relationship with when we were waiting alongside hundreds of others to try to secure them on our own,” said Sean Walsh, Chief Executive Officer at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare. “Too often all we hear and see is unhealthy competition in our space, instead of showing that quality providers can work and partner together to do good. Our partnership with Caron is the first step in that endeavor.”
Too often all we hear and see is unhealthy competition in our space, instead of showing that quality providers can work and partner together to do good. Our partnership with Caron is the first step in that endeavor.
As COVID spread throughout the US, the biggest barrier to behavioral health facilities remaining open was accurate testing to stop the spread. At Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, we are committed to helping those who need it, but the health and safety of our patients and staff is always our first priority. Early on in the pandemic, we employed strict testing protocols for incoming patients. But even then, we knew there was a higher level of testing that would make our programs even safer. Of course, these rapid tests were in high demand, and we couldn’t access them through our normal supply channels. We exhausted every avenue, from contacting the Governor of Arizona to reaching out to contacts in the National Hockey League, but we weren’t able to secure this more accurate testing equipment.
Brad Sorte looked beyond companies and brands and saw the greater need: to keep behavioral health and addiction treatment centers accessible and as safe as possible during the COVID pandemic. He used his connections and was extremely creative in leveraging the respect Caron has on our behalf. A visionary, and dedicated leader who sees the whole world as needing support, Brad immediately launched into action without any thought of the barriers and exclusivity that has plagued our industry for years. His commitment to keeping patients and healthcare staff safe during the pandemic aligned with MBH’s year-long focus on rapid-response testing, and we couldn’t be more grateful to him.
The relationship between Caron and MBH is personal as well.
“Caron’s current President & CEO, Doug Tieman, has been an important part of my growth and has made an impact on this industry that is impossible to quantify,” says Jennifer Angier, MBH’s VP of Addiction Services. “And Brad Sorte brings an assurance that Doug’s vision will not only continue but will impact us all at a very deep personal level. Brad’s heart for service proves he does not see barriers in getting the best of everything for our patients as they make their first tentative steps into recovery.”