KU Medical Center

About KU Medical Center

KU Medical Center, located in Kansas City, Kansas is a public alcohol and drug rehab that offers treatment for a variety of substance abuse addictions including co-occurring mental health disorders. They offer supervised medical treatment to safely manage withdrawal symptoms during detoxification, residential care providing long term support for addiction recovery, as well as flexible outpatient addiction therapy allowing patients to live at home while receiving regular treatment.

Specialty rehab programs at KU Medical Center include tailored care focusing on women's specific needs and experiences, gender-specific addiction treatment addressing unique challenges faced by men, and specialized drug rehab for veterans, addressing combat-related trauma and reintegration.

Patients at KU Medical Center will find the residential setting creates an immersive environment promoting full engagement in recovery away from daily triggers and the private rooms that give personal space for reflection and undisturbed rest during treatment.

Latest Reviews

Van Perkins

6 days ago on Google

Today the normally pretty good KU ED let me down pretty low.For 5 months now my appetite has just about stopped. I have lost a bit over 40 lbs during that time.Sat, I started to not be able take in solid food. I'm actually getting scared at this point. Dr Navarro came in and started asing me really stupid questions. I told her I wasn't able to swallow solid food. She asked why. I told her I don't know. That's why I came here.Family Practice helped out today. That was good.The ED can't seem to get past the length of their nose and do some real clinical digging. If it's serious, I won't be back again.

Michael McGrath

1 week ago on Google

Needs another drop off/pickup entrance, the lines are extremely long every day. Perhaps one side for picking up, another for dropping off, or something like that.

Shelly Davis

2 weeks ago on Google

My son died there. I felt he had to wait way too long to get treatment started.

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

8.2 / 10

Gallery

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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.

Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.

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.

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.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

Outpatient

Clients receiving treatment at an outpatient facility are often further along in their recovery journey than those in inpatient care, meaning they may require less intensive supervision and support. Outpatient services generally include addiction counseling, recovery education, and community reintegration support. Most outpatient rehabs offer evening, night, and weekend services to accommodate clients' needs. Clients who are in early recovery or are at an increased relapse risk may enroll in partial hospitalization (PHP) or intensive outpatient (IOP) programs.

Inpatient

Inpatient rehab offers intensive treatment and typically include round-the-clock clinical care. Inpatient treatment is designed primarily for clients exiting detox, those in early recovery, and those at an increased risk of relapse. Inpatient programs generally involve multiple addiction counseling sessions per week, which may include individual, group, and family counseling. Many inpatient rehabs also offer recovery-focused life skills training and evidence-based holistic therapies, such as meditation, massage, yoga, equine therapy, and experiential therapy.

Medically Assisted Detox

Physical withdrawal can be uncomfortable, and in severe cases, it can even be dangerous. In an inpatient environment, a medically assisted detox is performed by a team of licensed medical professionals who monitor your vitals, provide medications when necessary, and ensure your safety, health, and comfort during this process. Medical detox is usually the very first step in the recovery process.

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.

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

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 (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.

Equine Therapy

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.

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.

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.

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.

Amenities

Residential Setting
Private Rooms

Staff

Dr. Steve Stites, MD

Executive Vice Chancellor

Jeff DeWitt

CFO

Nell Lucas

VP for Medical Development, KU Endowment

David Vranicar, MBA

COO

Natalie Lutz

Director & Chief Communications Officer

Chris Harper

Chief Information Officer

Contact Information

(913) 588-5000

Website

3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66103

Get Help Now - 913-363-0419

Who Answers?

Reviews of KU Medical Center

3.2/5 (174 reviews)

Google Reviews

3.2 (174 reviews)

6 days ago

1 week ago

2 weeks ago

Randy K

3 weeks ago

An amazing hospital. They have taken care of me in the past and are currently taking care of my best friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Great people. Outstanding service.

Paul McCollum

1 month ago

worse than going to the DMV

Sunde

Finischa Young

Donna Delude

Been going to the hospital for years all of a sudden the last three years I can t even get a cardiologist appointment. I was seeing my cardiologist for the last eight years with no problem until he retired and the last Year before he retired I couldn t get appointment with him and I am an established patient! THEY ARE taking on too many new patients instead of taking care of their established patients and because of that you can t get appointments. My surgery was scheduled and two days before my surgery they told me I need to see the cardiologist and I can t even get to see the cardiologist.I m about ready to change all my doctors to a different group. Both KU and Olathe ICU and their ER you can wait for hours Before you re even seen by a doctor. At KU, I ve waited 10 hours to talk to a doctor. I was there at noon and didn t get out of the hospital 11pm and I didn t see A doctor until 10pm and got to the ER around 1 PM. The nurses are rude in ICU and at KU and Olathe. While I was in Olathe ICU they were at the nurses station,they were slamming doors in the middle of the night on purpose, cause I complained about the noise. So when I went back to the ICU because I had another brain aneurysm, I told him I didn t wanna go to ICU because of the way I was treated. Olathe Hospital and KU are one hospital now but the computers are not connected. Are their fingers broke? So what did they do before they have computers? They have a phone don t they? Can t they call each other?? SO they wait till the last minute To get information because their computers aren t connected so your surgery gets canceled. The stress alone and I m a heart patient Is taking a toll on my body just trying to get a appointment Or to talk to someone that knows what they re doing .schedulers need to be Retrained or the doctors have got to stop taking on new patients because they re established patients can t get an appointment. You have to be dead before they see you in the ER at KU.YOU sit there for 10 hours in pain. Why, buy all the hospitals in Kansas City if you can t handle Patients That IS are established with KU. It s all about money, not about Patient Anymore. I m thinking about going to Shawnee Mission Hospital and changing all my doctors.I m just really fed up with this stress of KU doctors and not being able to get appointments AND the way the staff treats you like you don t have a brain and you don t have feelings. I m starting to feel like a robot that I m having all this surgery because it Is a training hospital. Now the nurses don t come in when you re at a doctors appointment they just stand out there at the desk same thing with the hospital. You see the tech more than you see the nurse and the nurse acts like it s a inconvenience when they do come in, especially at the hospital, but not at the doctors appointments. The nurse is always been nice. They said they started taking over Olathe Hospital because they wanted us to get closer to our appointment so we didn t have to drive so far and that s a joke because I can t even get an appointment with anybody in Olathe cause I m not established Patient with Olathe doctors but then KU owns them go figure. I can go on and on, but I actually think they re gonna start losing people if they keep things the way they are instead of being there for the patients are there for the money the more patients they can get in their hospitals and doctors the more money they re gonna make.

This is very difficult for me to share. My normal rating for all staff and departments at KU would be near a 5.Not so with this review.I had the misfortune to have Dr Arbuckle of the Family Practice Clinic as my Primary Care Physician for several months. My medical history is extremely complicated. I have heart and kidney failure, a brain tumor and moderate to severe cerebral stenosis and also anemia which is requiring iron infusions. It took months to get the iron infusions ordered. During all of this time Dr Arbuckle was almost hands off.So, if you value your health and medical sanity do not accept a sub par Physician.Your life may very well depend on it.

Jake K.

Went to the ER and experienced a significant wait, but was admitted within reasonable time seeing as the ER was very busy.Although my issues were severe, the doctor refused imaging even though my PCP specifically said I need imaging such as MRI. My care was not prioritized. They wanted to pump me full of unnecessary meds instead of identifying the root cause. My IV was put in at an angle which was painful and nobody seemed to care. It took many many hours for labs to come back even though they assured me it would be approximately 1 hour for labs.For a hospital of this caliber, I was extremely unhappy with my experience. The ER doctors claimed I would receive a referral to neurology and they did NOT send one.

Dana Peugh

They have always been great. They give excellent care & they explain what & why they do things. I highly recommend this hospital!

Patty Gabel

I've been going to KU Med for 20+ years. The staff and doctors are caring, knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with. They are familiar with the genetic disorder I have called Marfan Syndrome. Both my cardiologist and pain management doctors are in this facility.

Overall Experience

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Date Submitted

Last 6 months
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2+ years