The Emory Healthcare Veterans Program (EHVP) is celebrating the opening of new patient treatment and office space and the expansion of its healthcare services for veterans.
The changes allow Emory to reach twice as many post-9/11 military veterans, helping treat their invisible wounds of service, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Made possible by a $2 million grant from program funder, Wounded Warrior Project, EHVP has doubled its current office and treatment space to 10,000 square feet allowing an eventual increase from 12 to 24 veterans to be treated each week.
EHVP is also announcing an expansion of its two-week intensive outpatient program (IOP) allowing the veterans treated to concurrently receive treatment for both PTSD and TBI. Patients receive the same dose of effective PTSD treatment as those in the PTSD only track, plus additional services targeting issues related to TBI.
These services include neuropsychological assessment and feedback, psychoeducation on the overlap of PTSD and TBI, and individual cognitive rehabilitation sessions to help the veterans learn cognitive strategies.
“We are thrilled with this opportunity to increase our reach and allow our lifechanging efforts to be extended to more veterans than ever before,” says Emory Healthcare Veterans Program executive director Barbara O. Rothbaum, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine.
“Wounded Warrior Project’s continued support is essential to the growth and upward trajectory of our program and our ability to successfully serve more and more warriors.”
EHVP is one of four academic medical centers in the United States supported by Wounded Warrior Project’s Warrior Care Network, a national network of academic medical center partners committed to connecting wounded veterans and their families with quality mental healthcare.
EHVP hosted a dedication ceremony on May 20 which included a private ribbon-cutting ceremony with Rothbaum along with Wounded Warrior Project CEO General Mike Linnington, Emory President Claire E. Sterk, Emory Healthcare CEO Jonathan S. Lewin and other members of the EHVP leadership team.
A program featuring veteran patient testimonials followed, along with a reception and tour of the new facility. Tour highlights included a virtual reality demonstration and tour of the “warrior room,” startle booth and other areas used during the program.
More about Emory Healthcare Veterans Program
Emory Healthcare Veterans Program began in 2015 and has served more than 1600 veterans to date. It is an international center of excellence dedicated to healing invisible wounds through innovative clinical care, research and education. EHVP provides expert, collaborative care for post-9/11 veterans and service members, living in any area of the country. Conditions treated include PTSD, TBI, military sexual trauma, depression and anxiety. Treatment options include outpatient and intensive outpatient programs integrating behavioral health care, including psychiatry and neurology, rehabilitative medicine, wellness, and family support. All services are at no cost to the veteran. The program also supports the training of behavioral health providers to increase awareness of military-specific treatment needs.