News

Intensive Out Patient Care Program Implemented at Offutt AFB

  • Published
  • By L. Cunningham
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs

There is a new Intensive Out Patient Care Program with in Ehrling Bergquist Clinic at Offutt Air Force Base. IOPs presently exist at a handful of bases throughout the Air Force. Due to the success of these programs, the mental health clinic saw it as a tremendous opportunity to provide Offutt with additional mental health services.

The idea for an IOP here at Offutt was implemented and developed by the mental health flight in consultation with 55th Medical Group leadership out of a desire to enhance the level of care provided through the medical treatment facility.

Although the Omaha VA remains an excellent partner in providing care to active duty members, the creation of the IOP within the Medical Group was implement out of a desire to extend the scale of care available, providing better access  care for Team Offutt.  

The program began working with the first group of participants. At present, care is only available to active duty military only. All care provided is within the mental health flight at EB Clinic.  The benefit to offering mental healthcare services at EB Clinic is reducing and possibly eliminating the need to placing off-base referrals.

Providing care in-house, improves coordination of care between a service member and their primary care physician or regular mental health providers.  

Those enrolling in IOP will participate in a four week program, participants will attend the IOP three days per week (M, W, F) for four hours per day. Participants will learn and develop numerous coping skills and behavioral tools to address a variety of mental health concerns. The benefit of IOP is that the group format allows participants to practice the tools and coping skills, receiving regular feedback on implementation. At the end of the program, participants will have a tailored plan of coping skills, resources to utilize at home and the work center. Participants are referred to the program by mental health providers within the mental health clinic.