[looking1]

So wednesday morning my best friend was admitted to the ER. She was having a psychotic break. They took her to medical for a couple days to clear up a bladder infection and without any warning they transfered her to a behavioral facility on the other side of the city on Friday.

She says she wants me involved in all of her care. In fact the night before they transfered she wanted me to sign a power of attorney, I was a little hesitant about this but she had been sick before, physicial illness and the doctors had given her a lot of drugs which left her confused. The power of attorney didn't get signed that night because there was no one to witness it and when I got there the next day they had transfered her to behavioral health. People always need an advocate when they are sick, and I've worked in the medical field before, it was on the insurance side, but I did it for eight years so I understand some of this stuff a little better than someone with little or no experience especially the adminstrative part of it. I've also been sick so I know how difficult it is to make those decisions if you don't have anyone involved with your medical care. Your friends and loved ones pay attention to things that you or the doctor aren't, but are just as important.

When they admitted her on Wednesday they gave her a sedative which let her get her first restful sleep for the first time in days. When she woke up she was clearheaded, present, and focused. She wasn't seeing things any longer, but she believed everything she was raving about before. She definitely needs help. She had an episode like this a couple years ago though it wasn't as bad and she told me she had a few like this before we became friends. Since she wants me involved they've given her medical release friday afternoon she said she was going to sign it, but I am still having a hard getting any information or even just talking to her.

I don't really know or understand mental health. I worked in the medical side. Yesterday they couldn't give me much information. Just that they would do 23 hours observation and then an eval. I'm one of those people that like information. The more information I have the more calm I am. Can anyone tell me what this process is like? What happens after the eval if they admit her? What happens if they send her home? Or if anyone is willing to share their experiences it would be really helpful and allow me to be a better support for her. I know she is scared and having not been able to check-in with her today is extremely frustrating. If they need to keep her for an extended period I am going to insist that they move her somewhere closer. I don't have a car so getting to the other side of the city is a barrier to me being supportive.

Also I'm iffy about the power of attorney. Does anyone know if that is the best document to use. Basically she wants me involved in every decision, but a power of attorney seems like a pretty strong document is there something else that wouldn't be as strong, but still force them to call me and involve me in the decision making process. Like I would have liked to have to talked to her case manager at the medical hospital and make sure she didn't get transfered to a facility on the other side of the city.

[kaliope]

it is good she has a friend who cares like you. I don't know much of the legalities but I think all she has to do is sign a release of information and they will be able to talk with you. you would need the power of atty to have a voice in her medical care though. when I got committed, after the initial holding period and eval, they deemed me competent and let me go. I was initially psychotic like your friend but after resting up and meds I got back on track so they saw no reason to hold me. I just had to agree to follow up care. if they still found me incompetent, they would have held me until they thought I was no longer in danger. this for your friend would be until she no longer believes the stuff she believed in her psychotic state. I hope she gets better and that you encourage her to participate in followup care and to take meds so this doesn't happen to her again. take care.