Inova CATS Program – Falls Church

I tried going back and they borderline lied and declined me from going back when I literally did nothing but hang out and go to every Meeting,, not sure if I was being mistaking with someone else cause even when I left… I made sure to leave my room super clean even rolled up the towels for them and piled them neatly and wiped down my whole bathroom and left the bed made for them.. again all I would do there is watch tv, eat snacks, talk to the other people in cats and go to ALL my meetings and even said good bye to the staff and thank them for everything it would really help me out again to go back but I’m not sure what’s going on, all they did was tell me no and to go figure it. This is mainly for the doctors the nurses were super nice though best 5 days there clean with no singular thought of relapsing I’m going to try again tomorrow and see if I can get checked in. If not forget it. I guess we’ll just relapse not to sound weak minded 🤷🏽‍♂️, honestly the only center I trust best in but I’m not sure what’s going and or what I did that was so bad that I cant come back anymore.

Staff don’t care, not one bit.

Best place to detox from alcohol in NOVA, hands down!

Absolutely love it Try Sublacade it saved my life and I never have to be sick again!!! I've got my favorite staff always but the 2 best doctors are Miriam and doctor Alatharri

Went here in 2024 and helped me with a safe detox and get the resources I need after detox. Stayed sober for 10 months after this and recently had a relapse where I ended up in detox at Virginia Hospital Center. I was… very shocked at how much better VHC's entire detox program was in every aspect, it made CATS seem like a unstructured prison. At VHC you have multiple structured groups everyday with a set schedule that occur everyday. They take up most of the day (literally 9am-7pm) and these are attended by both the detox and inpatient rehab patients, there were about 15-20 people in each group with a counselor leading the group, so you don't feel confined and alone. There was also AA/NA every night where volunteers from AA would come in and lead. We even went off unit to attend the AA meeting with people sober for years in the main lobby where they hand out newcomer packets and list of people willing to be sponsors. CATS was maybe 1 group a day with 4-5 people showing up. At VHC we were allowed to go on walks outside with nurses present, go to the gym at 7:30 after all the daily groups are complete, have our phones for an hour each day, make calls in our rooms from the phone in room, there was coffee/snacks/drink fridge you could access anytime, and each person had their own television. At CATS you do not get your own television, there is not a snack/drink fridge, you cannot have your cell phone, and you cannot leave the unit for a walk or gym or any reason. There also seemed to be a much friendlier environment between nurses, doctors, and the patients. VHC's program also costs less. If you are in dire need CATS is not a terrible awful place and I would tell you to go as it helped me. But if you can call VHC to check if they have availability and can drive 15 minutes down the road to Arlington I would. It can make a huge difference in your desire to voluntarily check out against medical advice.

Biggest hospital in Virginia period but don’t have anybody picking up the phones for Questions is unacceptable PG county do and their the worst

Wouldn’t recommend for an inpatient rehab.

Even with appointment I had to wait 9 hours in ER. Immediately upon arrival you are stripped searched and given a hospital paper apron. Then put right next to the psychiatric patients (who someone have their own… clothes) who yell and scream. I shared a room with a loud woman who was covid positive. After waiting there for hours they parade you through the hospital in a wheel chair. Then stripped searched again by the rude and emotionally numb cats staff. Their supervisor is the worst. VA hospital center is much better all around.

Worth ot.👌👌🌙💯

I was going to give 3 stars, but I can't bring myself to do it. Unfortunately, I'm a 3 timer at CATS INOVA. I'm grateful to be 3 years into sobriety now, but the CATS experience was a nightmare. Nurses are condescending… and rude. Doctors are there to ask you two questions a day and sign your RX list already predetermined by one of the two there. They don't listen to you, they tell you what you need instead of individualizing treatment. To add, their aftercare programs are awful. Essentially, they send you out the door with a "good luck." I understand it's the addicts responsibility to seek ongoing treatment, but the whole point of detox is to continue staying sober afterwards. The social workers are all way over their head, and often a year out of college. Not a lot of experience there and it shows. INOVA has one of the highest return rates in the state. It's declined so badly in the past years, and now it's just an antidepressant mill, churning out addicts just so they can come back in a month. The facility is nice, but it's glorified jail. Be prepared not to see the sun for a week. It takes a massive toll on your mental health.

I was at CATS about 20 years ago for Alcohol Detox about three times. Of course a detox is not fun to go through. But I give CATS good credit for their support through these lowest experiences in your life. We had well… educated spokes persons explaining about addiction etc. I am very thankful having experienced to learn and understand better about it all. And yes, CATS is not a five star Hotel. It is a very good and safe place for Detox. Thanks lifelong :-)

I am sharing the painful and heartbreaking experience we had regarding medical situation for my brother. He agreed to get detox treatment for opioids+benzo from CATS program (Inova hospital of fairfax,Gallows Rd). This… well reputed facility has very strict rules for visitors and personal belongings. He got admitted on 4/8,11pm. After his medical clearance he was transferred to CATS. He was doing okay the first day. We tried to visit him during the visiting hours (5:30-6:30PM) on 4/10. He was experiencing intense withdrawal symptoms and was not able to come to the visiting room. This the medical staff cut off Benzo cold turkey. Which is extremely dangerous that can leave permanent damage to brain or loss of life. We spoke to the nurse briefly. I tried to get a hold of him later that night. After multiple attempts of calling the CATS department I learned he experienced seizures, difficulty breathing, pain, heart rate went up to 160s and dropped to 30s. Because he missed 3 doses of medication without replacement, his body was not able to keep any oral meds. He was transferred to MCU for 4 days for medical treatment after the trauma. He was released on 4/18. Based on our personal experience. I do not recommend CATS program for being irresponsible and ignorant regarding my brothers intense case. We almost lost him due to the lack of attention from so called professionals certified medical team of Inova CATS Program. I hope the team improves their service to at least bare minimum qualification to continue providing humane services to our communities. He also experienced unfair bedside manners from multiple members of staff and nurses during his admission in CATS. We were not expecting a well reputed professional medical facility to mishandle critical condition of my brother and abuse our trust. It is stunning to see how dangerous is to trust the medical team’s to handle the life of our loved ones.

Absolutely amazing experience. Loved every shift. Everyone was supportive and helpful. Highly recommend them!! And to people complaining about no TV.. yeah there aren’t any in the rooms but one stays on until midnight… in the common area. We’re not there for entertainment. We’re there for detox and to get sober. There are also puzzles and I recommend bringing a book!

Great experience, great staff , very well taken care of and cared for. If you are ready to get sober this is the place to be !!

I understand I did this to myself, the state I was in when I went in was my own fault and that's what it is. They wouldn't listen to me, told me my reaction to Suboxone (panic attacks and weird overall reaction) was… unheard of and just increased the dose. This lead to a full fledged panic attack. The had to sedate me, and even whilst the medication they were giving me barely took the edge off of benzo withdrawal. I don't know. Years and years ago the program was wonderful. It seems to have fallen apart. I was writhing in discomfort and crying and the nurses just came in checked my vitals and walked out without saying a word. I'm not one to seek attention, but I just couldn't believe the level of apathy and rudeness by some of the staff. I understand it's a stressful job, but if it's not for you then go find a different position. At one point I thought I was going to die, as I started becoming delusional after the Suboxone treatment. Just... I don't know. They kept me two days longer than normal then send md home with 2 weeks worth of Suboxone despite my horrific reaction to it. The only reason for the two star instead of if being a 1 is for one particular nurse named Kimberly, she was educated in pharmacology and once knee what I was detoxing from made it so I could actually sleep one night. She was empathetic and knowledgeable. Aside from that, go at your own risk. I legit thought I was going to die there.

This isn’t coming from a patient who is struggling with substance detox. This is coming from a mother of a kid struggling with alcohol detox. My daughter was extremely overlooked and labeled as “mental”. She was day… three into detox and they started “tapering down” from detox and suffered from alcohol delirium. Instead of treating her they sent her to the ER for mental issues and waited in the ER until they found a bed somewhere in VA for psychiatric care. The doctor told me specifically that her condition was not detox related. My daughter was shackled to a bed in delirium. It wasn’t until an independent Dr observed her and put her in the care of Mount Vernon Hospital where she was diagnosed with alcohol delirium from withdrawals. She was treated there and the next day my daughter came back to me. Please don’t put your trust in this facility. It’s an in and out care and not concerned or worst yet trained in humane treatment for the patient.

Horrible experience, withdrawal from fentanyl and benzo, and they give advil and clonidine , i thought i will be semi sedated to fight the pain.

It is hit and miss with the compassion the nurses provide. Especially night nurses, they seem almost annoyed with patient questions. My day nurse was no better. Apathetic and nonchalant. I get it's no spa, however it's… dehumanizing. I had to check out a couple of days ago. However.. There's one particular nurse whom I will never forget; My first time there in August. (1st) She took the time with me as I checked out and was very patient. She even helped to escort me to my ride. She said she'd pray for me. Also, the intake staff/nurses were amazing that time, too. The three stars is simply for the excellent medications provided. If benzo/opiate detox, you will be taken care of. ~ D Allen

Avoid this place at all costs. Their detox program is great, but the step down programs and after care are atrocious and leave addicts back on their own with zero follow-up or compassion. The process was sold as a… 3-step program: Detox, outpatient, and then IOP. Their IOP program was full, so basically they send people back out on their own with no guidance or follow-up care. None! Not even a phone call. The last day of outpatient is the last you will hear from anyone. This place is horrible and I would never send a loved one there. They are quick to cash in on the insurance, but they treat people like garbage. Do NOT go to Inova if you want kind, compassionate care with a program that is capable of seeing their patients through to the end. They should be ashamed of themselves!

Awful experience. Was accused of continued drug use, even though state tests were ALL clean and I was NOT using. I was forced to sign a contract saying that I would behave, even though I wasn't doing anything. Then when… I called the state to have a test taken because I was being accused, the State called CATS, and the director and my counselor came down on me even harder. They rode me every day I was there until I "coined out". My counselor was kind in the beginning, but quickly turned on me and wrote a scathing discharge letter that both my psychiatrist and my therapist both said was dripping with personal issues against me. I have yet to read it because I'm sure it would send me through the roof. Go to recovery meetings, AA, NA, SMART...find another program like Bridging The Gaps in Winchester. CATS is awful.

The phone intake personnel was ok because they try to be understanding and get things going. However, they gave me inconsistent information that hindered steps taken to get someone in their program. Then once we start… the assessment process by assisting someone the assessment was wasted because the counselor provided conflicting information, gave it at the last minute and shifted the blame and took no responsibility in the mix up. I have now taken this as a sign that the person wasn’t going to get good treatment here. I’m just pist that the assessment wasn’t completed, but hey billed my insurance company and sent a bill. Ugh

I had an awful experience with the intake nurse -- very condescending as stated by another reviewer. She wasn't just rude to me, but also to my therapist (another INOVA fail to be described on another day in another… post) who referred me to the program. I found several of the counselors in the program to be condescending too, constantly trying to find some childhood trauma with which to associate my issues. Dr. Damtew (sp?) on the staff did not listen to my concerns and only offered to add more medications to my treatment plan. He also kept offering me meds to reduce cravings. I've literally never craved alcohol or any drug in my life (except maybe ice cream :) ) and shared that with him, but he still offered me meds for cravings daily. My primary psychiatrist recommended Seroquel to me and noted that I could take half a dose if the full dose made me too tired. Even on half the dose, I was still sleeping 12 hours and groggy when awake. I shared this with Dr. D and he said, "try half a dose." I thought (and said), "Dude, I just told you I took half a dose and it was too sedating..." Then he raised his voice and told me he's been a psychiatrist for 20 years, blah blah blah. That's great, but it doesn't matter if you don't listen to your patients. In my opinion, the groups were a joke - lots of coloring and collages. There's not enough structure and it felt like they were making it up as they went along. Out of the maybe 5 people I worked with, 2 of the counselors were alright. This program was a waste of $1000. Thankfully, I had a good primary psychiatrist who was able to help me find peace and stability. CATS was not a good use of my time or money for my situation. However, if you're someone who's desperate for treatment, it might be useful.

The CATS detox program is wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone struggling with addiction. They made me feel welcomed and took care of me with meds and I felt comfortable there.

I went through the CATS program for Detox on 4/9/14 . I have been sober since. Staff was incredible, friendly and really went above and beyond.

I took a friend there via the emergency room like they tell you to do. The ER staff were great. Then a CATS nurse came and handed us a phone to talk to someone - I don't even know who she was - some kind of intake… coordinator? She was extremely condescending. We high tailed it out of there. I work in health care and have never heard of a patient being treated with such disrespect. The CATS nurse was also very odd and condescending. It was a somewhat bizarre experience.

Almost 7 months after being discharged from a week of detox and I'm still sober. Amazing program and HIGHLY recommended!