One year after the inauguration of the Link in Sioux Falls, S.D., in June 2021, the mental health and addiction treatment facility had 4,001 triage visits and served more than 1,400 patients, local news source the Argus Leader reported June 28.
The visits eased the stress on local jails and hospitals, Bill Earley, executive director of the Link, said at a city council and county commissioners meeting June 28.
Nearly half of all visitors to the Link were brought by law enforcement, with under a quarter arriving by themselves. Another 22 percent were brought by security associated with various city medical centers, according to the Leader.
The center's withdrawal management program had a 77 percent completion rate among its 418 visits, and "[local hospitals] tell us it has had a significant … positive impact [on] their ability to deliver healthcare to the rest of our community," Mr. Earley said at the meeting.
The facility lacks services including psychiatric medication management, transitional housing for former offenders or people with assault history, and local options for treating meth addictions.