WORKING AT
As a part of Recovery Centers of America (RCA) at St. Charles, you will be joining the forefront of the battle against substance abuse in Illinois and help RCA bring high-quality, affordable addiction treatment to those in need. The opportunity to make a difference in your community and save lives from the disease of addiction is what makes a career at RCA St. Charles far more than just a job. At RCA you will join a group of truly dedicated and compassionate professionals to make a real difference in the life of others.
We chose the location for RCA at St. Charles based on the local need, but also because of its incredible location, just outside of Chicago in the “Chicagoland” region. We believe access to nature and beauty can be contributing factors to healing from drug or alcohol addiction. We also believe these same things make RCA at St. Charles a fantastic place to work.
RCA at St. Charles offers comprehensive, individualized treatment services for a wide range of substance abuse issues. The campus offers a variety of evidence-based treatment protocols designed to effectively treat drug and alcohol addiction, as well as support long-term, meaningful recovery for patients and their families. Additional patient services include yoga and mindfulness meditation; family, group and individual counseling; educational seminars and outpatient treatment programs.
Join RCA at St. Charles and help us save 1,000,000 lives one neighborhood at a time!
A Day in the Life…
ST. CHARLES FACILITY
RCA ST. CHARLES LEADERSHIP
One of the keys to success for RCA at St. Charles is great management. Its management team has a proven track record of high-quality addiction treatment. At RCA, we believe that strong leadership isn’t just great for the company, it’s also an opportunity to learn from the best and grow as a professional.

Chief Executive Officer
Karen Wolownik Albert
Karen Wolownik Albert, LCSW, joins RCA with over 20 years of experience in progressive behavioral health leadership. As a frequent public speaker and advisor regarding local, state, and federal behavioral health issues and initiatives, she is also a subject matter expert on substance use issues and treatment, juvenile justice and child welfare, therapeutic intervention, and case management.

Alumni Relations Coordinator
Scott Browning
If you would like to get in contact with Scott regarding alumni volunteer opportunities, events, or meetings for RCA at St. Charles, please email sbrowning@recoverycoa.com
Scott Browning serves Recovery Centers of America as the Alumni Coordinator for our treatment center in St. Charles, Illinois. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature with an Emphasis in Creative Writing. Currently, he is continuing his education to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor before transitioning into Master’s Coursework for either Art or Recreation Therapy. His passion for helping those who struggle with the disease of addiction makes him an asset to the Alumni Team and the patients at St. Charles.

Director of Admissions & UR
Bridget Martinez
Bridget Martinez began her career in the health care insurance industry 13 years ago as an access specialist at a level one trauma facility in the Chicagoland Area. From there, she obtained my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at Benedictine University in 2012 and has worked as a Utilization Review coordinator, crisis admission counselor, clinical therapist, and care advisor.

Medical Director
Dr. Stephen Holtsford
Dr. Holtsford holds an MD from the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he also completed a residency in emergency and internal medicine (EM/IM). In addition to his EM/IM board certification, he has been board certified in addiction medicine since 2019.
As Medical Director at RCA, Dr. Holtsford oversees the medical care of patients, including withdrawal management, chronic medical conditions and any other medical issues that arise during their stay at RCA.
Dr. Holtsford’s interest in addiction treatment and advocacy comes from his time as an ER physician, witnessing the ravages of drugs and alcohol on people in the community. Since obtaining board certification in addiction medicine, he also trains other providers, advocates for better care of OUD patients in the ER and works toward getting care to patients in the criminal justice system.
Prior to RCA, Dr. Holtsford was a full-time ER Physician. He continues to hold positions as a part-time ER physician at Northwestern Delnor Hospital in Geneva; the Medical Director of Lighthouse Recovery, an outpatient SUD clinic in St. Charles; the Illinois Medical Director of Bright Heart Health, an OUD treatment provider via telemedicine; as well as a member of the Kane County Opioid Task Force.
TEAMS AT RCA ST. CHARLES
Click on any department below to learn more about their function at Recovery Centers of America.
The Admissions Department is the first point of contact for patients entering RCA’s facilities. Empathy and professionalism are key so new patients, who are just starting their recovery journey, feel comforted and reassured. Admissions works directly with the Mission Center at the King of Prussia office to obtain intake information for pre-screened, pre-authorized patients scheduled for admission in order to complete the admissions process at their respective facilities. Admissions professionals guide newly arrived patients through the full gamut of physical screening, performing Bio-Psycho-Social, Medical, & Psychiatric assessments, and entering patient health data and history into our Electronic Health Record System (Avatar) as necessary.
The Case Management Department is responsible for patient aftercare. Case Managers work directly with patients under their care, as well as alongside the clinical department. They also put together a discharge plan detailing where the patient will go after they finish their inpatient stay at RCA, follow up services, and treatments the patient will need.
The Clinical Department is responsible for implementing new programs and treatments, as well as also making sure all existing treatments are consistently meeting patient needs. They gather patient feedback and report relevant data up the chain. Clinical is also in charge of distributing printed educational materials such as workbooks, handouts, and patient assessments. Clinical consists of accredited experts in the field of addiction treatment who are expected to offer guidance and expertise to patients as well as the staff at their respective facilities. The Clinical Department also includes therapists who manage a wide profile of patient cases offering group, individual, and family counseling.
The Housekeeping Department is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of RCA facilities. They perform day to day activities to ensure that all patient rooms and meeting spaces are maintained to RCA’s high standards.
The Human Resources Department manages a range of different functions at RCA facilities. This department is responsible for recruiting, screening, and interviewing qualified candidates. Human Resources also handles employee relations, payroll administration, benefits, and plays a strategic role in managing people and the workplace culture and environment.
The Medical Department is the highest authority when it comes to ensuring all patients are physically stable during their stay at Recovery Centers of America. Should a medical emergency ever arise, the Medical Department is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Every patient entering an RCA facility undergoes a thorough health assessment by the Medical Department. The Medical Department determines which medication protocols are appropriate during detox, inpatient stay, and medication-assisted treatment where applicable. They also offer medical insight to the facility staff whenever necessary and provide guidance during admissions of medically complicated cases. Patients with co-occurring physical ailments rely on the Medical Department for assessments and treatment planning.
The Nursing Department’s key role is maintaining the physical stability and safety of all patients. Members of the Nursing Department perform regular rounds to consistently assess the physical wellbeing of monitored patients and administer medications when necessary. Nursing works under the guidance of the Medical Department.
The Quality Assurance Department ensures proper documentation occurs as required by law, as well as for internal company usage. They are also responsible for processing and responding to all incident reports originating at their home site. This department serves as Corporate’s independent oversight team, ensuring all operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and rules such as State Regulations, Accreditors HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 and plays an essential role in preserving RCA’s integrity and reputation.
RCA’s Recovery Support Specialists are a very important part of the Clinical Department. Often the most common point of contact for patients, they maintain order at their respective facilities, guide patients to their scheduled groups and meetings, and ensure an efficient flow of day to day activities. They also offer one-on-one support to patients when appropriate. Recovery Support Specialists are compassionate and empathetic, they often form close bonds with RCA patients.
The Transportation Department provides patient transportation to and from RCA facilities, as well as takes patients on scheduled field trips and doctor’s appointments as necessary.
The Utilization Review Department acts as a liaison between our facility, our patients, and our patients’ insurance companies. They constantly communicate with insurance to advocate necessary treatments on the behalf of our patients and bill the insurance companies for patient time at the facility and services rendered. It’s their duty to make sure the care our patients need is paid for by their insurance.