Patients at Red Oak Counseling say they were blindsided this week by news that the clinic’s downtown Milwaukee psychiatry office and its Elm Grove location will shut down for good on February 25. With the closure date looming, many now have fewer than 30 days to line up new care, a tight window for people who depend on regular in-clinic treatment with psychiatrists who accept their insurance.
Patients say they were given little notice
Adriana Corbell told reporters the mailed notice felt like the rug being pulled out from under her. "I wasn't expecting this closure whatsoever, and it's really disheartening, honestly." Other longtime patients told journalists the letter did not include an individualized transfer plan and left them with under a month to secure a new prescriber or clinic, as reported by TMJ4.
Red Oak directed questions to Optum
When reporters started asking questions, Red Oak staff pointed them to corporate ownership. An Optum spokesperson responded, "Our priority is to support patients through this transition." According to TMJ4, the closure letter did not explain why the clinics are shutting down and instead urged patients to look for new providers through their insurer, hospital referral services or online directories, including Psychology Today.
Why Spravato patients are particularly vulnerable
Some Red Oak patients receive Spravato (esketamine), an in-clinic nasal medication that must be given under supervision with post-dose monitoring. Treatment usually starts with twice-weekly visits and may shift to weekly or every-other-week maintenance. Abrupt disruption of that schedule can complicate symptom control and calls for clinical planning and close follow-up. These administration and monitoring requirements are laid out in the prescribing information from Janssen.
Where to look for care and next steps
Patients facing a forced transfer are being advised to contact their insurer and reach out to their current Red Oak clinician, or use the patient portal, to request records and discuss a continuity plan. 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 that provide in-clinic therapies like Spravato. For contact details, see Red Oak Counseling and local listings on MDDCare.
What this means for Milwaukee's system
The shutdown is landing in the middle of a broader shift within Milwaukee County toward community-based behavioral health services, a redesign Milwaukee County says is moving crisis and emergency care into regional centers and partnerships. At the same time, outpatient clinic closures that interrupt ongoing psychiatric care highlight a lingering gap between crisis-system reform and the everyday need for steady access to psychiatrists and specialized treatments. Milwaukee County has described its move toward community care in its public materials, outlined by Milwaukee County.
