DVIDS – News – US Naval Hospital Guam Transforms Crisis Mental Health Care

In the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, U.S. Naval Hospital Guam is revolutionizing mental health care for America’s warfighters with a groundbreaking program that is already transforming lives and improving military readiness.

Since beginning operations in March 2024 and officially designated as a clinic on December 10, 2024, the military health system’s first crisis stabilization unit, the hospital has successfully treated 246 active duty military personnel experiencing health emergencies mental health, only two of whom required medical attention. evacuation and four requiring mental health admission. These remarkable statistics highlight both the effectiveness of the program and the hospital’s commitment to providing world-class care to Guam’s military personnel.

“The CSU initiative is dedicated to the psychological readiness of our warfighters who deserve timely, quality care, no matter the platform or location,” said Cmdr. Francine Segovia, director of mental health at USNH Guam.

The unit’s success directly supports the hospital’s mission to project forward deployed medical power and provide high-quality care to enhance warfighter readiness in the Pacific region.

A new standard of care

Before the CSU opened, service members facing mental health crises faced limited options: either endure long wait times in a busy emergency room or schedule an outpatient appointment that could take weeks to obtain. For those who needed more intensive care, off-island medical evacuation meant spending an average of four weeks away from their unit for care and travel and often required a non-medical attendant, resulting in up to eight weeks of total loss of operational tasks.

CSU has radically changed this scenario by providing an alternative treatment option. Operating as a “one-stop shop” for mental health care, the unit provides comprehensive services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring, referral and transition, all within a few hours.

“Given Guam’s geographic location, medical evacuations can take a few weeks, and given the operational tempo, units may not be able to afford unforeseen losses,” Segovia said. “The need for such a service arose from the legacies of line commanders and patients who sought quality care, regardless of platform or location. »

This innovative approach is based on evidence-based guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one of the leading experts in developing crisis care in the country. CSU is an alternative to emergency services and psychiatric hospitalization and provides intensive, short-term stabilization to a person in a behavioral health crisis who cannot wait for a regular appointment. Preliminary data indicates improved access, reduced costs, and a shift in care from emergency departments and hospitalizations.

Create a healing environment

Understanding that the environment plays a crucial role in the treatment of mental health, the hospital collaborates with facilities experts from the Defense Health Agency and mental health interior designers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create a space optimized for healing and stabilization.

“It’s the first image we want our mental health patients to experience when they seek help,” Segovia said, describing plans for the unit’s carefully designed setting that avoids stark clinical aesthetics. for the benefit of a soothing and family atmosphere with carefully chosen treatments. furniture, artwork and lighting.

Excellence in team-based care

CSU’s success stems from its multidisciplinary approach and the dedication of its staff, particularly its Navy Hospital Corps members with advanced training as behavioral health technicians. These essential team members have expanded their roles from administrative duties to providing safety assessments, comprehensive assessments, brief interventions and triage under clinical supervision.

“This in turn has honed their knowledge, skills and abilities, which will help our patients get the care they need when they need it most and prepare the respective BHTs with the clinical skills they need. will need when they deploy,” Segovia said.

Future growth

As USNH Guam looks to the future, the institution is exploring opportunities to expand CSU services. Currently serving active duty personnel during normal business hours, future plans may include the 23-hour Crisis Stabilization Unit model which would provide crisis respite and observation services 23 hours a day and would expand care for dependents.

“The success of our Crisis Stabilization Unit demonstrates what is possible when we reinvent how we deliver mental health care,” said Capt. Joel Schofer, director of USNH Guam. “As we look to the future, we remain focused on finding new ways to improve the readiness and resiliency of our warfighters through tailored mental health support.”

This innovative approach to providing mental health care continues to evolve as the hospital seeks ways to better serve its beneficiaries. Mental health care plays a critical role in maintaining military readiness across the Indo-Pacific region.

“Mental health is physical health. Mental health emergencies should be taken as seriously as any other medical emergency,” Segovia said.

Through innovative programs like CSU, USNH Guam continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care that supports both the well-being of individual servicemembers and overall military readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.

# # #

U.S. Naval Hospital Guam is a 282,000 square foot Military Treatment Center (MTF) that supports joint forces and strengthens the island by projecting forward deployed medical power, providing high quality care and by forging strategic partnerships. The MTF and its staff of nearly 700 people offer a wide range of primary and specialized medical services for the benefit of more than 27,000 beneficiaries.