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Pontiac VA Outpatient Clinic

44200 Woodward Avenue, Suite 208 Pontiac, MI 48341
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Top 10 Rehab In Pontiac
John D. Dingell VA Medical Center - Pontiac VA Outpatient Clinic MI 48341

About Pontiac VA Outpatient Clinic

The Veterans Administration (VA) Outpatient Clinic in Pontiac, Michigan, has limited hours and services. It’s only about 25 miles from the full service John D. Dingell VA Medical Center. The facility is open Monday through Friday. They have lab and pathology services, a pharmacy, and telehealth. Additionally, there are primary care services available, which include mental health and substance use disorder treatment. You can use your VA healthcare benefits along with private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Accessing Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorder Treatment in Pontiac

Although substance misuse isn’t listed as a specific treatment offered at this clinic, all VA clinics offer some treatment for dependencies. Ask for the Mental Health Clinic if you need addiction services. This clinic does offer additional mental health treatment through the primary care and telehealth departments.

If this clinic doesn’t have the programs you need, such as residential treatment, they’ll refer you to the closest option. The VA offers medically managed detox, medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid, tobacco, and alcohol use disorders, and different therapies.

Primary Care Services for Veterans in Oakland County

The primary care services here can coordinate all types of necessary care. You’ll be able to get lab work, mental health care, and social services in addition to regular primary care services.

They offer women’s health care through the primary care department. This may include birth control care, preconception counseling, hormone replacement therapy for menopausal support, and gynecological care.

Confidential Telehealth Services for Your Convenience

The clinic offers remote care by video and telephone. Providers for telehealth include mental health, retinal care, dermatology, rehabilitation, primary care, and bariatric surgery. Some providers are based at the nearby John D. Dingell VA Medical Center.

Facility Overview

Bed icon 108
Number of Available Beds

Latest Reviews

Ricky Glaser
6 months ago on Google
1
Dr. Santhi Mekala is a horrible doctor. I really like to know how many times she has billed the VA at my expense for doing absolutely nothing. She has tried to prescribed me medications that I have already done and then I'm labeled as difficult because I don't want to do them again. It takes months to see if these medications are working, so excuse me if I don't want to go backwards instead of moving forwards. She has lied to me about medication she has prescribed me. She told me this medication was a water pill when in fact, it was another blood pressure pill and because it was giving me side effects. She wanted to undermine what I was saying, "Oh its just a water pill." Well im sorry, I dont like the side effects to some of these medications but it seems to be perfectly acceptable to them. Im suppose to keep taking them when they're causing me problems. Meanwhile, my blood pressure is through the roof. I haven't had a decent night sleep in months. I'm going to stroke out and have a heart attack and no one seems to care. She don't even have the courtesy to speak with me anymore because she doesn't listen to anything I say. This is why nothing has been done in over 6 months. I still have the same blood pressure I had over 6 months ago. This is the way they treat Veterans at the Pontiac VA.
Brittaney Washington
6 months ago on Google
1
This place is HORRIBLE especially Tonya and Anne who are apparently supposed to be counselors, BUT these two people have NO CLUE HOW TO TREAT VETERANS.
Joel Lee
7 months ago on Google
5
Great team, caring, efficient!
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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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7.5 / 10

Location

Accepted Insurance

Pontiac VA Outpatient Clinic works with several private insurance providers and also accepts private payments when possible, please contact to verify your specific insurance provider.

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.

Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.

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 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.
inpatient iconInpatient
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.
aftercare iconAftercare Support
Clients engaged in a rehab aftercare program have already completed high-level treatment and have begun to develop essential recovery skills. Rehab aftercare services are designed to support clients' sustained sobriety as they reintegrate into their home, workplace, and community. Case managers, care teams, and clients design the customized service portfolio that will best support the client's long-term sobriety. Clients may receive peer coaching, 12 step program induction, vocational training, and relapse prevention services.
heart-hands iconIntervention Services
Intervention services helps family or friends of addicts stage an intervention, which is a meeting in which loved ones share their concerns and attempt to get an addict into treatment. Professional intervention specialists can help loved ones organize, gather, and communicate with an addict. They can guide intervention participants in describing the damage the addict's behavior is causing and that outside help is necessary to address the addiction. The ideal outcome of an intervention is for the addict to go to rehab and get the help they need.

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 Michigan provides personalized treatment to help individuals break this cycle and regain control of their lives. Treatment methods are used in various levels of care, including inpatient rehab, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and standard outpatient treatment.

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.

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

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.
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.

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.

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.

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

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.

Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy meant to be short-term and comprehensive. It was intended to help clients become more self-sufficent and move forward without the need for expensive, ongoing therapy. It includes an emotional self-help method called “rational self-counseling,” the purpose of which is to give clients all the skills needed to handle future emotional issues by themselves, or with significantly less professional help.

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

Chris W. Cauley, FACHE

Executive Director

Michelle S. Werner

Associate Director

Raghuram Matta, M.D.

Chief of Staff

Justin H. Peters, MPH, FACHE

Assistant Medical Center Director

Ronald A. Beems, MSA, BSN

Associate Director of Patient Care Services

Accreditations

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: 2431

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

Contact Information

Phone icon (248) 332-4540
Building icon

44200 Woodward Avenue
Suite 208
Pontiac, MI 48341

Fact checked and written by:
Susan Bertram, BA
Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD

Rehab in Cities Near Pontiac

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Reviews of Pontiac VA Outpatient Clinic

3.2/5 (23 reviews)
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Reviews

Overall Experience
Date Submitted
Reviewer

Google Reviews

3.2 (23 reviews)
Ricky Glaser
6 months ago
1

Dr. Santhi Mekala is a horrible doctor. I really like to know how many times she has billed the VA at my expense for doing absolutely nothing. She has tried to prescribed me medications that I have already done and then I'm labeled as difficult because I don't want to do them again. It takes months to see if these medications are working, so excuse me if I don't want to go backwards instead of moving forwards. She has lied to me about medication she has prescribed me. She told me this medication was a water pill when in fact, it was another blood pressure pill and because it was giving me side effects. She wanted to undermine what I was saying, "Oh its just a water pill." Well im sorry, I dont like the side effects to some of these medications but it seems to be perfectly acceptable to them. Im suppose to keep taking them when they're causing me problems. Meanwhile, my blood pressure is through the roof. I haven't had a decent night sleep in months. I'm going to stroke out and have a heart attack and no one seems to care. She don't even have the courtesy to speak with me anymore because she doesn't listen to anything I say. This is why nothing has been done in over 6 months. I still have the same blood pressure I had over 6 months ago. This is the way they treat Veterans at the Pontiac VA.

Brittaney Washington
6 months ago
1

This place is HORRIBLE especially Tonya and Anne who are apparently supposed to be counselors, BUT these two people have NO CLUE HOW TO TREAT VETERANS.

Joel Lee
7 months ago
5

Great team, caring, efficient!

Tom Ewald
1 year ago
5

40 years ago, getting medical help from the VA was a sad joke, especially at the Allen Park hospital. The change is incredible. I am very happy with what I've received at the Pontiac facility, and have enthusiastically recommended it to friends who are also veterans.

Kenneth Self
1 year ago
2

Joan Kossman
1 year ago
5

Very professional, respectful, timely.

Love ELise
1 year ago
1

This clinic doesn’t answer the phone.

Alex Williams
2 years ago
5

Thorough, and experienced primary care provider

Carolyn Johnson
2 years ago
1

The Dr's are rude, and cut you off mid sentence when they ask you a question and you try to answer them. I have try to ask her about referrals and she acts like she has no clue. When is the administration going to look into to issues of this location???

Bill Hewer
2 years ago
1

Do you always run heroes off because unlike you they are intelligent enough to breathe fresh air? We at this point have no credible health care. Forcing people to wear a mask that doesent work and is dangerous, and labeling everything covid needs to end TODAY.

Rafi barbar
2 years ago
5

J EAZY
2 years ago
3

Updated- month later i physically went in to get service. Appears short-staffed but i was taken care of and i'm happy with how i was treated. It would be unfair to keep review at 1star. Bumping it up to 3star.** Once upon a time- i received quality services at this place. Since at least June 2022; ive called about 100 times. Left multiple brief and detailed messages with my POC concise and clearly spoken at beginning and end. $hame on any well-paid oath breaker that just watch that phone ring as desperate combat vets try to get help or simple paperwork YOU never uploaded into VA system.. Just like the reviewers below stated. NOONE answers the phone #'s directly on VA webpage. Thanks for YOUR service. Wherever you are.

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