Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center is a Veteran focused substance use treatment program in Wichita, Kansas offering a full continuum of care within a comprehensive behavioral health and medical center setting.
Its whole client recovery model integrates evidence based treatment with trauma informed and military focused support.
Veterans can access care through the Substance Use Disorder Clinic which offers counseling and medication management including methadone and suboxone treatment.
For those needing structured support the voluntary Domiciliary Substance-Use Disorder (DOM-SUD) program provides a 42-day residential rehabilitation experience in a 24-hour therapeutic setting.
Clients can expect evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, and 12-step facilitation.
The program also serves Veterans with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders pairing addiction care with peer support, psychiatric services, and trauma-related counseling.
Our Methodology
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.
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.
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.
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.
Drug and alcohol addiction often takes a heavy toll on one's body. Over time, a physical dependence can develop, meaning the body physiologically needs the substance to function. Detox is the process of removing drugs and/or alcohol from the body, a process that can be lethal if mismanaged. Medical detox is done by licensed medical professionals who monitor vital signs and keep you safe, healthy, and as comfortable as possible as you go through detox and withdrawal.
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).
Detox treatment varies, but it always involves 24-hour clinical care in Kansas. This supervision is necessary to ensure a safe detox process. Time frame for this level of treatment depends on the severity and type of the addiction. Common time frames include 5-day detox and 7-day detox. Rapid detox programs are also available that are as short as 24 hours. Regardless of the time frame, constant supervision by experienced staff is an essential component.
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.
The length, intensity, setting, and treatment methods vary for each drug rehab in Kansas. Plans of care can be tailored to meet each person's own unique situation and needs. With the right program, individuals can successfully achieve long-term sobriety.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Private Transportation Medical Center Director
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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
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: 4595
Rehab.com regularly reviews this listing for accuracy but changes may occur between updates. For the most up-to-date information, please contact Robert J. Dole Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center.
5500 E Kellogg Ave
Wichita, KS 67218
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This center is outstanding, I went 2 years ago and was a great experience, their care toward the patients, is amazing service, they are very kind to veterans, I really appreciate all that they did for me, thanks.
First off I just looked online again and saw that the Dole VA hospital is rated 5-stars officially. And I have seen a rating online that has this VA in the BOTTOM TEN VA hospitals in the country. When I came here in May 2026 it was to get surgery for a blocked carotid artery following a Stroke I had in Thailand. It would have cost 13 or 14 thousand dollars over there, which the VA's Foreign Medical Program refused to pay for for several months, for nonsensical reasons, until I gave up fighting with them and flew back to the States for medical treatment. Second-off I went to the VA hospital in Wichita with a smashed left hand which I did in a serious fall I had just days before in Thailand. The staff at the Dole VA were on the job and took care of my injured fingers. Injected an anesthesia and wrenched the finger straight and put a brace on it and then got me an appt with an outside Ortho doctor very quickly. Since then I have gotten no medical care for the surgeries I still need. I get some treatments for my injured fingers and some exercise there for my balance and coordination, damaged by my Stroke. But they refused to do the carotid artery surgery. ( I can get a medical tourism trip from Thailand to India to have the operation at a cost of 3 - 4,000.00, which I could afford, and maybe 50 % chance of surviving the operation). Since I am Vietnam veteran the medical care is free here. But they refused to do the surgery. And the other two surgeries I need are urological. The third thing to bring up is that this hospital is indeed a maze of a few buildings in a domino pattern and provides very few treatments there. The urology department is virtually non-existent, and so is neurology. Getting sent out to community providers is just not feasible. You have to go through all of the information application stuff all over again and and then get scheduled for more tests and evaluations, never mind the fact that got most of these done before at the VA hospitals, and even in Thai hospitals. Eventually you have to learn that the scattered approach to your health care just does not work. Mistakes and miscommunications are made and you, the patient, suffer from the indifference and delays and cancellations and you should have gone to a better hospital. One reviewer mentioned that cardiology dept at the Dole VA was great. For me it was all about nothing. Just repeating the tests done before and then more tests and then they went behind my back and cancelled my consultations about the test results and cancelled my scheduled surgeries with the outside urologist. And cardiology workers claimed that I had refused to take tests and that my "Stress Test" had never happened. I have to apply for Medicare and seek treatment at another hospital.
called 3 tines talked to 3 different people. no one could tell me where bldg 29 is. found bldg. after waiting 15 minutes for handicap parking. appointment was on 1st floor. first floor is groud floor 2nd floor is 1st floor. very poor directions.after visiting dr. De hart my rating goes up to 4 stars. she was great.
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