Final Graduate Leaves Champion Center

The final patient of the Champion Center successfully completed chemical dependency detoxification treatment and graduated from the facility on June 23. Champion Center opened in November 2014 and is located at 303 S. C St., the site of the former Lompoc Hospital. In its almost three years of operation, the Champion Center provided medical detox, residential treatment, and sober living components, as well as Outpatient Partial Hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment for chemical dependency patients.

Champion Center provided highly regarded services to adults, offering several specialized treatment tracks for care, including for first responders and those with chronic pain.

“In the three years it was open, the Champion Center never met the projections anticipated in its financial pro forma,” explained Jim Raggio, Lompoc Valley Medical Center Chief Executive Officer.

The recruitment and retention of physicians specializing in Addiction Medicine – a requirement for the admission of patients -- was an ongoing issue, and the Center stopped accepting new patients at its medical detoxification unit on April 21, following the departure of its medical director.

Raggio said the Lompoc Healthcare District is exploring a variety of options for the future of the building.

“We’re working on solving some internal needs of the organization and that may become part of the equation,” he said.

Champion Center Administrator Steve Collier said he and Raggio are working with Santa Barbara County officials to retain the services at the site.

“All options are currently being explored,” Raggio said.

The facility will continue to host Champion Center Alumni Group each week, which offers past residents a chance to share stories of recovery and support.

“In the past three years, the Champion Center was immensely successful in providing chemical detox for those individuals struggling with addiction,” Raggio said. “We’re very proud to have been involved in their recovery.”