VA JOINT AMBULATORY CARE CENTER

790 Veterans Way Pensacola, FL 32507
DetoxOutpatient
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System - Joint Ambulatory Care Center FL 32507

About VA JOINT AMBULATORY CARE CENTER

Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System – Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola, Florida, offers primary care, laboratory services and mental healthcare. Their mental health services are provided in an outpatient setting and aim to help those who serve to lead fulfilling lives and achieve long-term stability.

The facility can help you recover from the most common mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and OCD. Addiction and substance use disorder is also part of this condition. Their outpatient substance abuse and mental health treatment involves consultation, clinical evaluation and assessment as well as group and individual counseling.

The counseling sessions can help veterans identify the root cause of the psychiatric challenges fueling their addiction, develop robust coping strategies against such triggers, rebuild self-esteem, and foster healthier relationships for long-term recovery.

Emphasis is on fast-tracking recovery from unhealthy alcohol and life-threatening drug addiction as well as mental health problems. In addition, the facility may treat co-occurring disorders which is when a person suffers from substance use disorder and mental health issues at the same time.

Most often, veterans struggling with mental health conditions like PTSD due to past combat missions may take to drugs and alcohol to cope with such situations. Over time, they become addicted to these substances, worsening their mental health and making recovery even more challenging. Through co-occurring treatment, veterans can address both their substance use and mental health issues simultaneously, leading to a more comprehensive and effective recovery.

One great thing about this facility is that they offer same-day assistance and may allow walk-ins, especially for emergency health services. It’s also possible to receive treatment if you’re not enrolled in the VA health care system.

The best part is that they accept multiple insurance options, including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, as well as various private insurance plans. If uninsured, you can pay out of pocket in person, online, by phone or via mail. Financial aid is also available via VA financial hardship assistance to help you fund your treatment if you cannot. In essence, funding your treatment in this facility is hassle-free.

Past clients seem to have had mixed experiences with this facility. Most criticized the overall quality of services, citing staff’s unprofessionalism and poor customer service, while some praised the facility for efficient and quality care, citing their competent and friendly staff.

Latest Reviews

Dirk Lenhart
1 month ago on Google
1
Update. After seven years still no better. Impossible to get through on phone...plan to hold for an hour...seriously, an hour. Not enough doctors. Staff not helpful.Our tax dollars at work.I've tried to contact the patient advocate and they won't return secure messages or phone calls.
Samantha Rush
1 month ago on Google
1
Waited over 2 hours for labs and the desk staff was very rude and short with everyone. This is not the first time I have had this problem with this VA hospital. Very disappointing.
John Hills
1 month ago on Google
5
This is far better than any VA care I received in DC and Virginia
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Rehab Score

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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 MethodologyCaret icon
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7.9 / 10

Location

Other Forms of Payment

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.

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.

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

outpatient iconOutpatient
Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.
aftercare iconAftercare Support
Rehab aftercare programs are a collection of highly individualized services designed to promote long-term recovery. These services evolve as your needs change. Case managers and recovery teams typically begin formulating the rehab aftercare service plan early in the recovery process to facilitate your reintegration back into the home, workplace, and community.
12-step icon12-Step
12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).
sober-living iconSober Living Homes
A sober living home in Florida often serves as a transitional residence for individuals coming out of inpatient rehab. This helps those in recovery avoid isolation that can sometimes happen after they return home from treatment. It offers a supportive environment where they can practice skills learned in rehab. Offering a combination of structure and freedom, men's or women's sober living is a good stepping stone to independent life in recovery.
heart-hands iconIntervention Services
If a person with a substance use disorder continually denies their problem or refuses to get treatment, a drug intervention in Florida may be necessary. Intervention services can help mediate the intervention by providing an addiction expert. This professional can de-escalate situations and facilitate a healthier discussion between the individual and their loved ones. Specialists can also help families handle issues they don't know how to navigate on their own.
medically-assisted-detox iconMedically Assisted Detox
The first step of the recovery process involves the removal of all drugs and alcohol from your system while under 24/7 medical supervision. Known as a medically assisted detox, you are closely monitored by medical staff who can provide medications, if necessary, to help alleviate any potential withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox is usually followed by a period of inpatient addiction treatment.

Treatments

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

Drug rehab in Florida provides quality treatment to help individuals overcome dependency related to a wide range of addictive substances. Programs address both the physical and mental aspects of addiction in order to help you make a full recovery.

A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.

Programs

adult-program thumbnail image
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.
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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.
lgbtq-program thumbnail image
LGBTQ Program
Recovery is most successful when clients feel accepted and validated by their peers and treatment providers. Facilities that offer LGBTQ-inclusive programming are committed to creating a safe space where everyone can grow and recover without fear of judgment or discrimination. They will have dedicated policies in place to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters free expression.
military-program thumbnail image
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.

Dialectical behavior therapy in Florida consists of individual therapy and group instruction. This structured program is a form of psychotherapy that incorporates the development of skills for managing emotions and relationships.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Accreditations

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1992 by congress, SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American's communities.

SAMHSA Listed: Yes

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization that specifically accredits rehab organizations. Founded in 1966, CARF's, mission is to help service providers like rehab facilities maintain high standards of care.

CARF Accreditation: Yes
Accreditation Number: 243639

The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.

Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Accreditation Number: 2313

Contact Information

Phone icon (850) 912-2000
Building icon

790 Veterans Way
Pensacola, FL 32507

Fact checked and written by:
Chika Uchendu
Edited by:
Courtney Myers, MS

Reviews of VA JOINT AMBULATORY CARE CENTER

2.9/5 (188 reviews)
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Reviews

Overall Experience
Date Submitted
Reviewer

Google Reviews

2.9 (188 reviews)
Dirk Lenhart
1 month ago
1

Update. After seven years still no better. Impossible to get through on phone...plan to hold for an hour...seriously, an hour. Not enough doctors. Staff not helpful.Our tax dollars at work.I've tried to contact the patient advocate and they won't return secure messages or phone calls.

Samantha Rush
1 month ago
1

Waited over 2 hours for labs and the desk staff was very rude and short with everyone. This is not the first time I have had this problem with this VA hospital. Very disappointing.

John Hills
1 month ago
5

This is far better than any VA care I received in DC and Virginia

Craig Tingle
2 months ago
1

My father is in peril of dying because they won't return a phone call now for three weeks. Most of the time I wait for 30-40 minutes before giving up and trying again later. Fire these people!

Jonathan Wade
3 months ago
5

Always have received great care here from the ambulatory and audiology clinics. The facility is bright, clean and well organized.

Alan Edhegard
4 months ago
5

Despite the overwhelming numbers of veterans using the VA healthcare system, I have had the best experience and care and been truly blessed with the medical attention I have received at the Pensacola VA clinic. I have to send praises to the team Jacobs where I receive my care from Dr. Michael Jacobs.

Mary Davenport
6 months ago
1

I can not tell you the number of times my husband and I have been made to feel as if we are in the staff's way. Do these people realize WHY they have a job? If not for the veteran they would be without employment In sure. Apparently non of them got the memo..."be kind today"!!! Shame on all of you. You should come to attention and salute these veterans for defending your freedom!!!

Randy Knipfer
8 months ago
1

I transferred back into the Pensacola and Biloxi VA medical centers back in June of 23. I m 100% disabled and have been denied medical treatment several times by the doctors and delayed treatment by the community care and who ever process consults. I ve repeatedly requested either the CMO or senior management of his staff to contact me no contact. Left several messages for the Privacy Officer to contact me, nothing. I ve even been told by the Orthopedic assistant that if I don t like it here, then go elsewhere. I used to be attached to Biloxi from 8/17 to 8/21. When I first got there it was great but quickly went south. The doctor I was assigned never told me that my PSA was getting worse for which I had prostate cancer. Not all the doctors, nurses and technicians are bad just some. I ve been to several different VA Medical Centers by far for me this is the worst. But I ve seen worst than here. Hopefully now I will get a response from the VA.

Frederick Artis
9 months ago
5

Joseph Flynn
1 year ago
1

Should be sued and folks put in jail. This is what your nation thinks of you. Nobody should serve a nation that treats it's vets like this. Why risk life and limb for a nation that will let you die in the street when you come home?

Alicia Taylor
1 year ago
1

We had to drive 30 mi to get a form because they would not return phone calls after saying that they would.

W Moore
2 years ago
5

My 5-star rating is for the quality of care I've received from Dr. Jacobs...I realize the Pensacola VA clinic has issues that need to be corrected, but Dr. Jacobs is by far, the best primary care physician I've ever had; I'll gladly wait as long as necessary for him to see me.

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