North Florida VA Health System – Tallahassee Health Care Center

North Florida VA Health System’s Tallahassee Health Care Center is also known as the Sergeant Ernest I “Boots” Thomas VA Clinic. You’ll find ’em located in a secluded corner of Tallahassee, Florida. It’s a mix of Southern charm and sunny coastal influences that draws visitors and residents. It’s not too far from the Jack L. McLean Jr. Park Community Center if you want to spend time with family or just relax on your own.

The clinic provides healthcare for veterans in the surrounding area. There’s a broad range of surgical, dental, psychiatric, and nursing care. Healthcare is provided Monday through Friday. They provide addiction and substance use care for drug and alcohol treatment at this location. You can begin your care with or without an appointment, and referrals aren’t required.

The substance use disorder team provides psychotherapy, education workshops, and medication assisted treatment (MAT) to overcome addiction and mental illness. They’re also well versed in treating co-occurring substance use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Co-occurring disorders are called dual diagnosis and require specialized care to increase the success of treatment. This is because PTSD and addiction disorders interact with each other, exacerbating symptoms and making treatment more complex.

Dual diagnosis is sometimes called integrated therapy because the mental health conditions must be treated simultaneously. Your treatment program may also include case management to help you receive the appropriate assessments that determine the level of care. Depending on your assessment and severity of your condition, substance use disorders are treated within the mental health clinic or over telehealth.

Your VA treatment program may include ambulatory detox, which is provided in an outpatient format. Counselors can treat you with a mix of motivational enhancement therapy, contingency management, or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Medications may be used to help manage your withdrawal symptoms but must be approved by the VA, like methadone, buprenorphine, and buprenorphine combos like Suboxone.

They provide options to pay your bill online, by phone, mail, or in person. You may have a copay balance on your VA health care bill or may use another form of health care coverage like Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or a private insurance plan for your spouse’s employer.