Recovery Brands, LLC
📍 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
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<p><strong>SAN FRANCISCO VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM</strong></p> <p>In a beautiful set of buildings with panoramic views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System provides a full range of medical services to veterans in Northern California. The Mental Health Service at San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC) offers an <strong>array of outpatient treatment programs for substance abuse</strong>. </p> <p><strong>TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT</strong></p> <p>Veterans seeking outpatient treatment through the Mental Health Service can be referred by their primary care provider or visit the <strong>walk-in clinic</strong> for a psychological assessment and evaluation. SFVAMC’s Addiction Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) division offers a range of options for those struggling with substance abuse, including an intensive outpatient program (IOP), a drug and alcohol treatment clinic (DATC), opioid treatment program (OTP), and specialized substance use post traumatic stress disorder (SUPT) program. </p> <p>The <strong>IOP operates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.</strong> The center recommends that veterans <strong>attend three times per week for a minimum of 10 days of treatment</strong>, which equates to three to four weeks. <strong>Evidence-based treatment includes education and skills groups</strong>, weekly meetings with case coordinators, psychiatric consultation, and aftercare planning. The IOP strives to give participants the tools they need to achieve abstinence and prevent relapses. It also offers opportunities to learn about and obtain <strong>medication assisted treatments</strong>. </p> <p>The <strong>DATC</strong> helps veterans achieve and sustain abstinence from substance use. A case coordinator works with participants to develop an individual treatment plan, which may include <strong>group, individual, family, occupational, evidence-based psychotherapies, and pharmacotherapy treatment options</strong>. </p> <p>The <strong>OTP</strong> works with veterans struggling with addiction to opioids, such as heroin and oral pain medication. The program consists of <strong>counseling and medication assisted treatment (MAT)</strong>, e.g., Suboxone, methadone, and Vivitrol. OTP is a comprehensive treatment service that addresses not only substance abuse, but also co-occurring mental health diagnoses. </p> <p><strong>SUPT addresses veterans struggling with substance abuse and military-related post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)</strong> resulting from combat, military training, and sexual trauma. Participants engage in group, individual, skill-based <a href="https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/seeking-safety-an-evidence-based-model-to-address-trauma-and-addiction-together" target="_blank">Seeking Safety</a> and Mindfulness, and trauma-processing exercises according to their individualized treatment plan to achieve their goals. </p> <p><strong>STAFF CREDENTIALS</strong></p> <p>A multidisciplinary team provides services to veterans who attend the Mental Health Service's ARTS offerings at SFVAMC. Professionals include psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, addiction therapists, and an occupational therapist. Two alumni polled by Rehabs.com rated staff’s level of experience and training 4.5 out of five stars on average.</p> <p><strong>WHAT ALUMNI SAY</strong></p> <p>Four alumni polled by Rehabs.com gave the SFVAMC <strong>mixed to high ratings</strong> to date. All four offered four- and five-star ratings in nearly every category of the survey, including holistic treatment offerings and counseling options. Alumni wrote the <strong>staff was well-trained and helpful</strong>, although one anonymous alum noted the VA’s bureaucracy as a weakness.</p> <p>On Google, 74 reviewers rated SFVAMC as a whole <strong>4.1 out of five stars, on average</strong>, to date. Reviewers left comments about helpful staff, including one who referenced Mental Health Services: “I like the staff here, and they can be really personable. Mental Health staff are the best I’ve worked with.” <small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a></small> The few complaints noted <strong>long wait times</strong> and lack of organization.</p> <p>On Yelp, SFVAMC as a total organization had an average rating of <strong>four out of five stars</strong> among 52 reviewers to date, more than two-thirds of which were four and five out of five stars. <small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a></small> Many reviewers complimented how well the VA treats veterans. Reviewer Terry wrote: “They seem to care more about their patients, than many private clinics and hospitals do.” The rare negative reviews described the facility as ”rampant with medical students using veterans to gain experience" and "poorly accommodated.” </p> <p><strong>FINANCING</strong></p> <p>According to the website, SFVAMC <strong>accepts military insurance and some private insurance</strong>.</p> <p><small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> <a href="https://goo.gl/MgsNko" target="_blank">https://goo.gl/MgsNko</a></small></p> <p><small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/san-francisco-va-medical-center-san-francisco?start=40" target="_blank">https://www.yelp.com/biz/san-francisco-va-medical-center-san-francisco?start=40</a></small></p>
— Sherry Adler · 2017-11-13 09:12:52 PST
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