SFVAMC opens same-day mental health clinic

Originally published on SFVAHCS News
 

Woman talking to doctor

A Same-Day Mental Health Clinic has opened at the San Francisco VA Medical Center to reduce barriers for veterans seeking non-emergency, outpatient mental health care. Photo courtesy San Francisco VA Health Care System.

The San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC) has expanded its offering of mental health care services with the addition of a same-day clinic. The new clinic is an important part of SFVAMC's continuing efforts to reduce barriers for veterans seeking non-emergency, outpatient mental health care.

Patients will be seen in the new, walk-in clinic Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m. It is located in SFVAMC Bldg. 203, Ground Floor, Room GA-28. Patients arriving at the Access Center front desk should let them know they would like to be seen in the same-day clinic.

The Same-Day Mental Health Clinic will see veterans who:
  • are having issues with stress, anger, depression, alcohol, or drugs, and interested in talking with someone about it;
  • are transferring their care from a different medical center and need a refill of a psychiatric medication;
  • need to establish outpatient mental health care at SFVAMC and want to speak with someone about it;
  • are interested in learning about mental health resources provided at SFVAMC.
     

After 6:30 p.m. and on weekends, patients with urgent or emergency psychiatric concerns may be seen in the SFVAMC Emergency Department (Bldg. 200, Ground Floor, lobby entrance), which is open 24/7 for veterans in crisis, (e.g., experiencing suicidal thoughts, acute intoxication/withdrawal, or acute psychosis).

“We are pleased to open this same day clinic and offer veterans an additional opportunity to be introduced and connected to outpatient mental health care at SFVAMC,” said Danielle Roselin, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSF and assistant chief of the SFVAMC Mental Health Service. “We welcome any questions, comments, or feedback on how you think this clinic can best carry out our mission.”

For more information about the clinic and its services, patients can call the SFVAMC Same-Day Mental Health Clinic at (415) 221-4810, ext. 24824.

About UCSF Psychiatry

The UCSF Department of Psychiatry and the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute are among the nation's foremost resources in the fields of child, adolescent, adult and geriatric mental health. Together they constitute one of the largest departments in the UCSF School of Medicine, with a mission focused on research (basic, translational, clinical), teaching, patient care, and public service. UCSF Psychiatry has an organizational structure that crosses all major UCSF sites - Parnassus, Mission Bay, Laurel Heights, Mt. Zion, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, the San Francisco VA Health Care System, and UCSF Fresno.

About the San Francisco VA Health Care System

The San Francisco VA Health Care System is a comprehensive network that provides health services to veterans through the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC) and six community-based outpatient clinics in Santa Rosa, Eureka, Ukiah, Clearlake, San Bruno, and downtown San Francisco. It has a long history of conducting cutting-edge research, establishing innovative medical programs, and providing compassionate care to veterans. SFVAMC has been affiliated with the UCSF School of Medicine for over 50 years, and all physicians are jointly recruited by SFVAMC and the UCSF School of Medicine.