KACC Mental Health Staff Reset and Review Clinical Policies During Daylong Wellness Stand-Down

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. — The Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center (KACC) Mental Health Department temporarily paused routine patient appointments Nov. 5, 2026, conducting a dedicated, full-day stand-down focused on clinic operations, professional development, and provider wellness.

The one-day closure provided mental health clinicians and administrative personnel uninterrupted time to conduct an in-depth review of clinic workflows, access to care processes, and team coordination impacting patient care delivery.

"Periodic operational reviews like this are essential to ensuring our entire clinical team remains aligned on how we deliver safe, timely, and high-quality mental health care," said U.S. Army Maj. Brittany Ressel, deputy chief of Kimbrough's Mental Health Department. "Setting aside focused time allows us to refine our workflows so patients receive the safest, most effective, and consistent care possible."

Investing in Caregiver Resilience In addition to operational reviews, a central focus of the stand-down was caregiver well-being. Staff participated in dedicated wellness and resilience training hosted in coordination with the Fort Meade Garrison Chaplain’s Office.

Staff split into groups to rotate through dynamic, hands-on team challenges designed to test and strengthen their emotional endurance under pressure. During the "Build It Without Seeing It" exercise, team members had to reconstruct complex designs relying solely on verbal instructions—a challenge emphasizing the precise feedback loops and active listening critical to clinical evaluations.

Another station, "Icefront Ops," threw participants into fast-paced operational scenarios where they had to maintain calm, structured communication amid simulated chaos. Meanwhile, the "You Can't Carry Everything" station focused on load-sharing and stress mitigation, prompting providers to recognize their personal limits, practice clinical boundaries, and rely on peer networks to shoulder the heavy emotional weight of secondary traumatic stress.

Clinical leadership noted that deliberate "pause and reset" opportunities are essential to maintaining long-term care standards across military mental health environments. Mental health providers navigate distinct occupational challenges that make dedicated wellness initiatives vital:

• Combating Compassion Fatigue and Burnout: Mental health professionals routinely help service members, military families, and retirees navigate complex trauma and psychological stress. Without regular opportunities to decompress, clinicians face secondary traumatic stress and emotional exhaustion, which can erode sustained empathy. • Preserving Clinical Sharpness and Patient Safety: A refreshed, supported clinical staff is better equipped to conduct thorough diagnostic assessments, detect subtle shifts in patient conditions, and exercise sound clinical judgment during critical evaluations. • Leading by Example: Clinicians who actively participate in structured wellness and mindfulness practices embody the self-care habits, coping mechanisms, and healthy boundaries they teach patients every day. • Enhancing Departmental Cohesion: Stepping outside daily clinic schedules allowed multidisciplinary staff—including psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and technicians—to reconnect, share best practices, and strengthen team support systems.

Resuming Full Operations Department leadership expressed appreciation to the Fort Meade community for their patience and flexibility during the single-day operational pause.

"We recognize that any temporary closure requires coordination and understanding from our patients," Ressel said. "Taking this dedicated time allows us to return to our clinics stronger, better synchronized as a team, and refreshed to deliver the highest quality care to our service members and their families."

Normal clinic appointments and check-ins have now resumed. Patients needing routine mental health services or appointment scheduling can contact the KACC Mental Health Clinic directly during regular operating hours at 301-677-8895 or 833-286-3734, option 6. Those in immediate crisis are reminded that emergency services and the Military Crisis Line (dial 988, then press 1) remain available 24/7.

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