ABOUT GULF COAST VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM – MENTAL HEALTH
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System is a teaching hospital in Biloxi, Miss., with clinics in Mobile, Ala., and Pensacola and Panama City, Fla. The medial center provides a residential rehab treatment program and intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment for veterans with chemical dependency, psychiatric, or co-occurring disorders. Medically-monitored detoxification is available on-site, and additional outpatient mental health and addiction services are offered at regional clinics, including a smoking cessation program.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Treatment at the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System begins with a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment to identify underlying behavioral and physical health issues.
Veterans undergo clinical evaluations to determine appropriate levels of care. Residential options range from acute psychiatric treatment in the hospital to an extended-stay work therapy program. Clients with an immediate need for substance abuse cessation can enroll in detox services.
Gulf Coast operates a VA psychosocial residential rehabilitation treatment program (PRRTP), which serves veterans who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction, PTSD, chronic mental illness, or homelessness. All treatment programs are integrative, supporting recovery in multiple areas of health and life. Treatment involves individual and group counseling, medication management, education, and access to medical care and community support services.
The PRRTP substance abuse track is a 30-day program that incorporates 12-step concepts and practices. Veterans may also participate in a six- to eight-week PTSD program or a 13-week longer-term track that includes the development of vocational and coping skills and techniques to prevent relapse.
Gulf Coast also offers a 28-day intensive outpatient substance abuse recovery program and outpatient continuing care groups in Biloxi and other clinic locations. Marriage and family counseling sessions are available as well.
Continuing care services are available as well as the case managers help clients establish sober living and recovery-focused habits outside of treatment. This includes referrals to other organizations as needed as well as developing support networks in the community.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The treatment team at Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, registered nurses, case managers, and social workers. Staff members maintain their credentials yearly and have extensive experience working with clients in rehab.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The VA medical center is located on the northern beach in Biloxi. According to the facility’s website, veterans in the PRRTP program participate in evening and weekend social activities including games and movie nights.
No details are provided concerning living arrangements. However, Best-rehabs.com survey results from five alumni indicated that the quality of accommodations, meals, and exercise and leisure opportunities was strong. Veterans gave high ratings of four or five out of five stars for metrics measuring each of these aspects, including the facility’s cleanliness and upkeep, and one former resident cited the living quarters as a program strength. Another alum, B.P.S., provided a lone three-star rating for exercise and leisure, writing: “No Internet acess. Sometimes not a whole lot to do on down time.”
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The five alumni reviews submitted to Best-rehabs.com about the mental health and substance abuse program were universally positive. When asked if they would recommend the program on a scale from one to five, the facility received an average of 4.75 out of five stars.
Five veterans provided high average ratings for the the staff’s level of training and experience (4.4 out of five), the effectiveness of treatment (4.8), and the quality of treatment in particular for co-occurring conditions such as depression or PTSD (4.8). With one exception, alumni also reported a high level of family participation.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The sole loved one who responded to a Best-rehabs.com survey to date provided mildly positive opinions about several aspects of the program, including three out of five star ratings for family participation and overall treatment effectiveness, and four out of five stars for the facility’s affordability. The loved one gave two out of five stars for the facility’s holistic offerings.
WHAT STAFF SAY
On Indeed, the facility received one four-out-of-five star review and one five-out-of-five star review from employees. [1] One current employee wrote: “Excellent place to get clinical experience with staff who willingly teach and assist you.” A former employee wrote: “great staff, great atmosphere and amazing boss.”
FINANCING
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System is a government-managed organization. It accepts private insurance and military benefits. Other arrangements may be made at the discretion of the facility.
[1] https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Biloxi-Va-Medical-Center/reviews?fcountry=US&floc=Biloxi%2C+MS