They never returns voicemails and rarely answer any of the phone numbers. They make us waste our time.
About CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs
CHI Health Mercy’s Mercy McDermott clinic provides primary health and behavioral health care for children, adolescents, and adults in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Their behavioral health program includes psychiatric and chemical dependency services for adults. Treatments are tailored to the needs of each client, with available services that include residential treatment, partial hospitalization and general outpatient programs, and aftercare support. Specialized services are available for clients with co-occurring conditions.
Their residential treatment supports those who require 24/7 medical monitoring before transitioning to lower levels of behavioral health care. A multidisciplinary team of providers can deliver around-the-clock support, which includes your physical health and psychiatric services.
Their outpatient treatment includes varying levels of care based on your unique needs, goals, and recovery progress. Available programs may include individual and group counseling, addiction education, access to 12 Step programs, and similar services. Aftercare support may include connections and referrals to local, community-based events, programs, and resources that can offer long-term recovery support.
They’re in-network with most private insurance plans. They also accept Medicare and Medicaid. Verify coverage with your individual provider because out of network benefits can vary.
Latest Reviews
This review specifically attains to your emergency room.
Response from the owner1 day ago
Thank you for your feedback.
I have been to Mercy for a CT Scan and was treated very well by all staff. I retired 3 years ago and recommend CHI to all my friends. I really enjoyed working with staff for 15 years. They are like family to me.
Response from the owner4 days ago
Thank you for sharing; your review is helpful! We always strive to provide the best possible care in a welcoming environment.
Dr. Mortensen and the whole staff do an outstanding job.
Response from the owner4 days ago
Thank you for your kind comments! We are dedicated to caring for our communities with love and compassion. We have passed your comment along to the team so that they can be recognized. 
Rehab Score
Our Methodology
Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full Methodology
9.2 / 10
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Location
Other Forms of Payment
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Inpatient Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.
Partial Hospitalization Program Commonly referred to as "day treatment," a partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a short-term, intensive rehab option that provides structured treatment for those who don't require 24-hour care. PHP treatment can also be used as an alternative to inpatient hospitalization or as a "step-down" option. Insurance coverage for PHP treatment varies. Typically, PHP treatment requires a minimum of 20 hours a week and lasts an average of 90 days. PHP treatment often includes relapse prevention strategies, medication management, individual and group therapy, and other behavioral therapy interventions.
24-Hour Clinical Care In the addiction treatment process, detox is typically the initial stage of recovery, and it involves 24-hour clinical care in Iowa. During this process, you receive constant medical supervision as harmful substances are purged from your body. Medical staff may prescribe medications to treat withdrawal symptoms and allow you to safely and comfortably break free from physical dependence on the substance.
Outpatient Outpatient rehab programs are designed to support clients who are exiting inpatient treatment and for those who prefer to remain in their own homes during active recovery. Clients in outpatient care typically integrate treatment into their ordinary daily routine, including work and school schedules. Evening, night, and weekend therapy sessions, recovery training courses, and other outpatient services are widely available to accommodate clients' needs. Many outpatient rehabs also offer medication assisted treatment (MAT), including medication induction and maintenance.
Treatments
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.
Programs
Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Young Adult Program
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
Military Program
Serving in the military is both mentally and physically challenging, and can result in trauma that persists even after combat ends. Military programs are tailored to the specific and often complex needs of active duty personnel, veterans, and military families. Clients often access these programs through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Clinical Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.
Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a way of getting nicotine into the bloodstream without smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine to help people stop smoking. The goal of therapy is to cut down on cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), is a way of treating physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to positively affect their physical and mental health.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Staff & Accreditations
Staff
Tim Bricker
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tim Plante, RN, MSN, MHA
Chief Nursing Officer
Brian Tiffany, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
Kathleen Kat Rondeau
Chief Strategy Officer
Bradley Pristelski
Chief Information Officer
Troy Hammett
Chief Financial Officer
Aaron Austin, MBA
Chief Human Resources Officer
Accreditations
State Licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow rehab organizations to conduct business legally within a certain geographical area. Typically, the kind of program a rehab facility offers, along with its physical location, determines which licenses are required to operate legally.
State License: Iowa
Contact Information
(712) 328-5000 
800 Mercy Drive
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Get Help Now - 712-227-3481
Who Answers?
Who Answers?
Fact checked and written by:
Courtney Myers, MS
Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD
