ABOUT HAMPTON VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER
Located on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) serves the Tidewater area of Virginia and North Carolina. Available treatment addressing substance use disorders includes residential care for homeless veterans and general and intensive outpatient programs for all qualifying clients. A central VA website indicates that most VA medical centers also have the capacity to provide medically managed detox services. According to a VA directory, Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC in Richmond and the Salem VAMC both offer opioid treatment programs, which are not available at Hampton.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
A primary care physician or other treatment provider refers most clients for outpatient addiction treatment at Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The facility’s domiciliary program also offers drug and alcohol treatment as part of its residential services to veterans struggling with homelessness. VA treatment takes into account co-occurring disorders veterans often face, such as PTSD, depression, pain, disturbed sleep, and relationship difficulties.
According to the Hampton VAMC website, veterans seeking substance use disorder (SUD) treatment are encouraged to participate in outside support systems, such as the 12-step programs Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. VA treatment focuses on relapse prevention and motivation. Vocational needs are also addressed as part of Hampton’s mental health program.
A typical SUD treatment program at the VAMC runs for about 12 weeks with once-a-week therapy sessions utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and/or motivational enhancement therapy (MET). The center also assists with smoking cessation.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center employs more than half a dozen psychiatrists certified in addiction treatment, along with psychotherapists.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The domiciliary at Hampton VAMC provides 169 beds and the mental health inpatient unit offers 40, according to the facility’s website. At the time of this writing, plans for the opening of a new outpatient mental health clinic on campus were set for early 2018.
No further details regarding living arrangements or related offerings are available from the VAMC. However, two of three alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com to date provided maximum five-star ratings for metrics measuring general accommodations, meals and nutrition, the facility’s cleanliness and upkeep, and exercise and leisure activities. The third granted ratings ranging from one to four stars, with cleanliness receiving the strongest approval.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
All three alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com would recommend the Hampton VA Medical Center’s addiction treatment program to others and rated the staff’s level of training and experience highly. Two rated treatment effectiveness five stars, one of whom highlighted the staff’s personalized approach. “The physicians listen and respond appropriately to individuals’ concerns and make custom recommendations,” she wrote. A second alum reported becoming “more positive and motivated” following treatment, which included 10 weeks of aftercare following discharge from the inpatient unit.
Nevertheless, one of the three reviewers granted just one star for the effectiveness of treatment, emphasizing affordability as the facility’s main strength. They reported that the VA was understaffed with “wait times up to 8 weeks.” Opinions were split on the center’s capability to offer quality dual diagnosis treatment.
Secondary reviews sites yielded mixed feedback concerning the VA hospital as a whole. On Google, one reviewer mentioned substance abuse and three referenced mental health treatment. Most of these complained of poor staff communication and one echoed complaints about with the wait time for an appointment. However, another alum agreed with the Best-rehabs.com review that characterized treatment staff as good listeners who worked with clients to decide on treatment options.[1]
FINANCING
Veterans Affairs medical and mental health services are available without cost in some cases. However, veterans are encouraged on the VA website to maintain secondary insurance coverage.
[1] https://goo.gl/faC1th