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"Who is the next in command?" asked the soldier, "What goes on at the Veterans' Medical Center Day Hospital?"

On December 12, 2002, the New York Harbor Day Hospital Director Bert Hersch explained the state of the art outpatient psychiatric care provided for Armed Forces heroes.

On or about 1980, the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) initiated a program to treat diagnosed consumer veterans in a setting other than inpatient wards. Initially, this treatment program emphasized the role of the clinicians. It has grown into "self empowered rehabilitation," where the consumer is instilled with self-responsibility. Flash back for a moment. When the clinicians control the program, they become caretakers or mothers to the consumer. With the new day hospital program's emphasis, the consumers are taught to self-advocate.

The program provides structured groups led by clinicians. The multidisciplinary staff includes a psychiatrist, a psychologist, social workers, recreational therapists, and an occupational therapist. By leading the groups, these clinicians implement tried and true lessons. During a typical day, individual therapy begins at 7 am. Other classes that follow could be the consumer government, group therapy, computer skills and arts and crafts. Since attendance is mandatory, the consumers interact with each other and build bridges of fellowship and nurturing. Consumers take charge and lead the cognitive process under clinical guidance. The VAMC is at the cutting edge of peer advocacy and encourages consumer interactions. In fact, the hiring of VAMC peer advocates is under consideration.

Historically, the VAMC program is male-dominated; women's outreach is underway. Today, the day hospital offers a wide range of support to all the various veterans groups. No longer is this program restricted to male honorably discharged veterans. An active outreach to women and to non-combatants is now being made. As a nonprofit VAMC agency, the veteran consumer pays no fees and receives a lunch voucher. A nutritionist and dietitian is available for free consultations. Although the graduation date is four months away, veterans may stay longer or return to the program as needed.

The program is a partnership of healing for the consumers and clinicians. The staff may adjust treatment by providing each individual a fertile setting of healing through role-playing to desensitize the veterans and this community. "We try to be responsive to all veterans regardless of what is going on in their life. We like to keep an open door," said Bert Hirsch, Program Coordinator of the day hospital at VAMC.

To conclude, everything in day hospital healing is a systematical process and it is fortunate that America now serves soldiers who served America when our nation needed them.