ABOUT MALCOM RANDALL VA MEDICAL CENTER
Located in southwestern Gainesville, Fla., the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center is part of the North Florida/South Georgia Veteran Health System. Alongside a full spectrum of general medical services, the facility offers a mental health department that treats a wide range of disorders.
Clients coming to this center for help with a substance use disorder can expect to find residential care, an intensive outpatient (IOP) program, and general outpatient treatment, according to a directory published by the VA.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
A primary care physician or other treatment provider refers most clients. Treatment takes into account the co-occurring disorders veterans often face, including PTSD, depression, pain, disturbed sleep, and/or relationship problems.
The main goal of treatment is for clients to utilize their resources to develop healthy coping patterns. This may involve family therapy, and both individual and group counseling are also utilized. Both evaluations and aftercare are offered.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
As a general medical hospital, this facility employs doctors and nurses but specific about treatment staff for the mental health department are not currently detailed.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
There is currently no information provided by the facility regarding its living arrangements and related offerings.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
At the time of this writing there is one alum who has been polled by Best-rehabs.com. The anonymous alum was impressed with the overall quality of the facility and gave a five- out of five-star rating across every metric. The alum added that a strength of the facility was how it treated veterans, and strongly agreed that the facility had plenty of counseling options available to meet his preferences, that the staff were experienced and well trained, and that he would recommend the facility to a friend or family member who was seeking treatment.
In addition, secondary reviews sites yielded mostly positive feedback concerning the VA hospital as a whole. On Facebook, the facility has an average rating of 3.7 out of five stars, based on 86 reviews, and on Google, the center has a four- out of five-star rating based on 84 reviews.[1] [2]
In a positive comment reflective of what many said, Albert wrote on Google: “Compared to the non VA hospitals I have been a patient in ( and most were very good) the staff here are the best. It seems that everyone has a sense of the privilege of serving those who served. And many themselves have military experience.” By way of negative feedback, several reviewers noted long wait times for appointments and difficulty getting through on the phone.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
At the time of this writing there are two friends or family members who have been polled by Best-rehabs.com. The two loved ones gave mostly positive reviews of the facility but one felt that the treatment center could stand to improve in a few areas.
One anonymous loved one agreed that the facility staff were experienced and well trained, that the program had fair admissions and discharge policies, and that the program was worth the cost. The loved one added that there was good medicine available, as well as proper doctors and treatment.
The other anonymous loved gave the facility four out of five stars for treatment effectiveness, three stars for accommodations & amenities, and four stars for meals & nutrition. This loved one felt that the facility had good policies, was well kept, and had sufficient extracurricular activities available for clients, agreeing that the facility offered excellent leisure, exercise, and extracurricular options; was clean and well maintained; and that family and loved ones were able to participate in treatment through facility programming. The loved one added that employees at the facility should be more knowledgeable “The facility (staff) are overworked and need training on current treatment plans.”
FINANCING
VA services are offered free of charge to qualifying veterans who were honorably discharged. In some instances — for example, if the medical difficulty is not related to the individual’s military service, or if the individuals earns above a certain income — clients may be required to pay a copay.
[1]https://www.facebook.com/pages/Malcom-Randall-VAMC-GV/204204636261183
[2]https://goo.gl/G8RMky