Two psychiatry clinics operated by Red Oak Counseling in Milwaukee are closing on February 25, forcing patients to find new providers in less than 30 days. The shutdowns affect the clinic’s downtown Milwaukee location and its Elm Grove branch, leaving patients who depend on regular in-clinic psychiatric care with limited time to secure alternatives.
Patients said they received little advance notice of the closure. Adriana Corbell told reporters the mailed notice felt like “the rug being pulled out from under her,” and she said “I wasn’t expecting this closure whatsoever, and it’s really disheartening, honestly.” According to TMJ4, other longtime patients reported the closure letter did not include an individualized transfer plan, leaving them with under a month to locate a new prescriber or clinic. Red Oak deferred questions to its corporate owner, Optum, with an Optum spokesperson stating, “Our priority is to support patients through this transition.” The closure letter did not explain the reason for the shutdowns.
Special Concerns for Spravato Patients
Some Red Oak patients receive Spravato (esketamine), an in-clinic nasal medication administered under supervision with post-dose monitoring. Treatment typically begins with twice-weekly visits and may transition to weekly or every-other-week maintenance. According to prescribing information from Janssen, abrupt disruption of this treatment schedule can complicate symptom control and requires clinical planning and close follow-up.
Resources and Next Steps
The closure letter directed patients to find new providers through their insurer, hospital referral services, or online directories including Psychology Today. Patients are advised to contact their insurer, reach out to their current Red Oak clinician, or use the patient portal to request records and discuss continuity plans. They can also ask hospitals or referral services about urgent psychiatric follow-up options. Red Oak’s website lists phone numbers and the patient portal for existing clients, while clinic directories such as MDDCare list other local sites providing in-clinic therapies like Spravato.
The clinic closures come amid Milwaukee County’s broader shift toward community-based behavioral health services, which the county says is moving crisis and emergency care into regional centers and partnerships. However, outpatient clinic closures that interrupt ongoing psychiatric care highlight a gap between crisis-system reform and the everyday need for steady access to psychiatrists and specialized treatments.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://hoodline.com/2026/02/shock-clinic-shutdowns-leave-milwaukee-mental-health-patients-scrambling/