Compass Health Center Expands to Wisconsin with Statewide Virtual Mental Health Programs—Aims to Prevent ER Visits and Improve Access
MILWAUKEE, Wis.—April 28, 2025—As emergency departments across Wisconsin report rising mental health visits and long delays for care, Compass Health Center is launching a new solution for residents across Wisconsin: virtual, immediate-access mental health treatment programs for young adults and adults (ages 18+), beginning April 28, 2025. In-person care will follow this fall, with a new center opening in Brookfield, just outside Milwaukee, to serve patients who prefer or require on-site care.
“We’re meeting people before a crisis forces them into the ER,” said Paul Mueller, MSW, President, Compass Health Center. “Our programs are designed to stabilize individuals, reduce emergency visits, and make high-quality care accessible from home, without long waitlists. This virtual launch is the first touchpoint in our long-term commitment to Wisconsin, making care accessible now, and expanding in-person options this fall for Milwaukee-area communities.”
Compass’s daytime Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs mark the organization’s first step into Wisconsin, providing a flexible alternative for individuals who need more than outpatient therapy, but don’t require inpatient hospitalization, an ER visit, or residential care.
“This is a community that deserves to be heard and supported. As a member of this community, I’m proud that Compass is bringing immediate access to high-quality, evidence-based mental health care across Wisconsin,” said Mueller. “We are a psychiatrically led organization grounded in the proven combination of integrated therapy and medication management. Our model allows individuals to begin care the same or next day, helping them stabilize sooner and avoid unnecessary hospitalization. With over 20,000 patients served and strong clinical outcomes, we’re honored to bring this level of care to Wisconsin.”
A Mental Health Access Crisis in Wisconsin
Compass’s launch comes at a pivotal time for Milwaukee and the state at large:
- 52 of 72 counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, per the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. WORH
- In Milwaukee County, nearly 1 in 3 adults report frequent mental distress. Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- In 2023, Wisconsin hospitals logged over 81,000 emergency room visits for mental health and substance use concerns—a 6.7% increase from the year prior. Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Meanwhile, younger adults face mounting pressure. A 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 59% of Wisconsin high school students reported at least one mental health challenge in the previous year. Wisconsin Children
“Our treatment outcomes show that Compass Health Center’s programs reduce depression and anxiety symptoms by approximately 50% for adolescent and adult patients. This demonstrates that the right level of care at the right time truly makes a measurable difference,” said Mueller. “We are not only helping individuals stabilize. We are preventing the need for crisis intervention or inpatient care after they complete our program. Ninety percent of patients maintain their progress and do not require a higher level of care for at least 12 months following treatment.”
What’s Launching on April 28
Compass will begin offering virtual PHP and IOP programs for young adults and adults (18+) across Wisconsin, focused on:
- Mood and anxiety disorders
- Trauma and PTSD-related symptoms
- School anxiety and refusal, particularly in college-aged young adults
- Mental Health, Chronic Pain, and Illness
All care is delivered live, virtually, by a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, therapists, and experiential therapy specialists. Assessments are typically completed within 24–48 hours, and most patients begin treatment the same or next day.
Looking Ahead: In-Person Location Opening This Fall in Brookfield
In addition to the virtual launch, Compass Health Center will open its first in-person treatment center in Wisconsin this fall in Brookfield, expanding access to those who prefer or require on-site care.
The Brookfield facility will offer the same specialized, evidence-based, intermediate-level programming Compass is known for, supporting individuals who need more support than outpatient therapy, keeping them out of the ERs and hospitals.
“This virtual launch is the first step in our commitment to Wisconsin,” said Mueller. “We’re investing in specialized, sustainable, community-rooted care across the state, both virtually and in person.”
Hello, Wisconsin: A Preventative Model for Long-Term Impact
Compass Health Center is nationally recognized for its outcomes-driven, intermediate-level mental health care, serving patients across Illinois, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Its programs are designed to meet individuals where they are: early, effectively, and without delay.
Compass programs include:
- Same- or next-day starts
- Psychiatric evaluation within 24 hours of program start
- Specialization in complex diagnoses
- Weekly check-ins with a dedicated psychiatrist or nurse practitioner
- 100% in-person or virtual care options
Compass is actively building partnerships with Wisconsin schools, hospitals, and community providers to ensure coordinated care and long-term impact.
From call to care, without the wait: Refer or Learn More
Appointments are now open for virtual services beginning April 28. This is Compass Health Center’s first expansion into Wisconsin—offering immediate access to virtual care statewide, and expanding to in-person treatment in Brookfield (Milwaukee-area) in Fall 2025.
Visit compasshealthcenter.net or call 877-552-6672 to refer a patient or schedule an assessment.
Media Contact:
Kelly Jones
SVP, Marketing & Partnerships, Compass Health Center
kjones@compasshealthcenter.net
About Compass Health Center
Compass Health Center is a leading provider of specialized, intermediate-level mental health care, offering Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Programs for children, teens, young adults, and adults. With a focus on accessibility, outcomes, and coordinated care, Compass treats a wide range of conditions including mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, OCD, co-occurring mental health and substance use, school refusal, chronic pain and illness, and more.
For more information, visit www.compasshealthcenter.net. For immediate support call 877-552-6672.
