ABOUT CENTRAL ALABAMA VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM (CAVHCS)
Operating two facilities in the communities of Tuskegee and Montgomery, Ala., Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) provides short-term inpatient and outpatient-based services for military veterans and active-duty personnel struggling with psychiatric disorders, chemical dependency, or co-occurring disorders. If necessary, medically monitored detoxification services may be available to help patients safely and comfortably withdraw from drugs and/or alcohol.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Upon admission, patients undergo an initial substance abuse and/or psychiatric assessment to determine an appropriate plan of care. Patients who may benefit from a structured, monitored environment to stabilize may be referred to short-term inpatient care. The goal of CAVHCS’s inpatient program is to quickly stabilize the patient and transition the individual to a less-intensive level of care.
To stabilize the individual, CAVHCS facilities may utilize a combination of pharmacological intervention and a range of evidence-based treatment methods. During inpatient care, patients may participate in group, individual, and family counseling sessions, as well as coping skills workshops. According to the facility’s website, CAVHCS facilities also offer a program track that focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) re-adjustment.
Along with PTSD, CAVHCS offers “treatment for a variety of issues that can impact emotional well-being.” These issues may include depression, sadness, grief, anxiety, addiction, relationship problems, stress from medical problems and/or pain, problems managing anger, and vocational issues. To treat these specific areas, patients may attend issue- or disorder-specific group counseling sessions or educational workshops.
In some cases, VA hospitals and clinics will utilize medication-assisted treatment (MAT), such as Campral or Suboxone, to treat individuals struggling with chemical dependency or co-occurring disorders. These evidence-based medications alleviate the discomfort of withdrawal and help curb cravings. Patients with substance abuse disorders may also attend educational workshops on relapse prevention and be introduced to peer-help fellowships, such as 12-Step.
Once a patient is stabilized, CAVHCS may encourage patients to transition into an outpatient-based level of care. VA facilities’ intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) typically last between six and 10 weeks. To help ensure a successful re-entry into the community, case managers develop comprehensive discharge plans and may facilitate supportive employment opportunities.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Mental health services of VA hospitals and clinics are typically facilitated by a multidisciplinary team comprised psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, registered nurses, case managers, social workers, and peer specialists.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
There is currently no information provided by the facility regarding its living arrangements and related offerings. However, the sole loved one polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing, who reviewed the Tuskegee facility, gave a two out of five-star rating for the facility’s cleanliness and upkeep.
WHAT STAFF SAY
The sole alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date praised the Tuskegee facility, providing perfect five-star ratings for the facility’s discharge planning, counseling options, and the treatment staff’s level of experience and training. Citing the staff as the facility’s strength, the alum described the facility as “Wonderful.”
Alumni feedback sourced from secondary review cites revealed generally approval of the Montgomery facility as whole. On Google reviews, five alumni gave the facility an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars.[1] However, no reviewer elaborated on their personal experience.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The loved one polled on the Tuskegee facility was overall critical of the facility, offering two-star ratings for the amount of family participation, the facility’s discharge planning, and its ability to treat co-occurring disorders. “Did not keep following the patient,” the loved one wrote. The loved one did give more moderate three-star ratings for the facility’s counseling options and the treatment staff’s level of experience and training.
FINANCING
Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System accepts private insurance, TRICARE,, and Medicare.