partial hospitalization

I have an intake appointment on Wed. to enter a partial hospitalization program.

I'm not sure what goes on one of those programs. I know it will be 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks

I'm on SSDI so Medicare is my insurance. Confused about how much they'll cover.

Anyone been in a PH program? Experiences to share?

I worked at one before at a public hospital here. Very laid back, nothing like regular inpatient psychiatry (where I have also worked).

No supervision in the traditional sense of the word. Patients came and went as they wished around their morning/afternoon appointments and activities. Also, where I worked patients ordered their own food by calling a number like roomservice, and the menu was really good.

Two person rooms, but it wasn't usually filled up so patients got their own private room if not filled. Could come and go as they pleased pretty much, sign in/sign out system. Seemed almost... boring at the one I worked at. Don't know if that's the right word. Boring for staff maybe. I wasn't privy to group sessions or anything else in the partial program like at the inpatient (regular) program, so I don't know how effective it was. I didn't talk to the patients much either unless they needed something or had a question.

The state insurance/Medicare/Medicaid patients had everything covered, but this was a state institution, not private.

Of course, patients who needed more monitoring were NOT at the partial hospitalization program, but in regular inpatient psychiatry.

As I understand they vary quite a bit from place to place though.

Do you think it will be good for you?

(I've always been kind of mystified by the effectiveness or lack thereof in places like that...)

just wanted to wish you luck - hope it works out

(((((((((((((iummapatient))))))))))))))))))


good cluk with the hospitL. i will talk to syou before then but good luck my gfreind and i hope it workss out.

xo deli

I hope this helps.
At mine people usually started out being there all day, every day and worked down slowly, decreasing hours there to not going at all but just seeing a case manager. As people decreased hours, they added things like a volunteer job , a part-time regular job, college classes…
The program consisted of activities and group therapies. There was art therapy, group psychotherapy, 12-step group. There was a group cooking class, trips to town, we had our own news letter, stress management class, social skills class…
Everyone met with their psychiatrist, who was in charge of their treatment, once a month and everyone met with their case manager, who coordinated their care, once a week. Everyone had a social worker, who they met with as needed for family issues. Everyone saw a private therapist twice a week too.
Everyone was free to come and go. No locks. We didn’t have bedrooms. Just a big living room type area, offices for the case managers, social workers, and psychiatrist and lots of bigger office type rooms for group meetings and activities.
I hope that helps.

I haven't, but I hope it goes well for you

Hi Imapatient,

I haven't been in a partial hospitalization program before. However, I have been inpatient before, and initially they recommended that I transition to partial hospitalization. So, I learned about what the programs are like in my area, both for the hospital I was at as well as some nearby. Most offer pretty structured programs here. You have daily programs and activities while you're at the center, and some sort of shared meals. You will probably have activities like art therapy or craft classes, maybe exercise times, field trips (as others have mentioned) and group discussions on things that are pertinent to your recovery like how to deal better with your depression or family dynamics when you have depression, for instance. There is often group therapy, and you have periodic private meetings with a therapist and/or psychiatrist to oversee your care.

I am also on SSDI and have Medicare. When you meet with the intake worker, I suggest you ask carefully about how much the program will cost, and what will be covered by Medicare. At least in my case, I couldn't afford it, and that was why I wasn't able to proceed with the program. It may be different in your area, and the costs may be lower, but it's a good question to ask.

Take care,
ErinBear

Hi Imapatient,
I just finished with a PHP last week - it is basically like being in the hospital but you could go home at night.

We weren't supposed to leave during the day, but we weren't behind locked doors and some people left on breaks to smoke.

We had to be in group therapy throughout the day, and this PHP was for eating disorders, so there were supervised meals and snacks.

The groups were about CBT and DBT skills, spirituality and motivation, relapse prevention, relaxation, art therapy, meal planning, nutrition, and other coping skills.

We each met with an indivdual therapist once a week (got pulled out of groups to meet), and met with a pdoc when we needed to.

It is a good step-down from inpatient care, as it gives you so much structure and intensive care during the day but you are on your own at night, and it is nice to be able to sleep in your own bed.

Intakes can be scary and stressful because there are usually so many questions about your history and symptoms, but the people who work there are usually pretty understanding and nice since they do it all the time.

It can also cause anxiety to be the new person starting in the group.....just remember that everyone was new at some point and eventually you will get to know the other members and maybe even make some friends......I did.

Good luck to you, let us know how it goes.....


kt

I really don't have too much to add. I have done inpatient and outpatient. They were very different. Inpatient is locked doors and 15 min. checks etc. Outpatient was pretty much as everyone has described. I did this at a Major Medical center here in town. We all got there at the same time every day and our dayplan was based on our needs. For example, people with drug alcohol issues went to different groups than people with depression. Everybody had art therapy and ate meals together. We also were checked periodically ( never knew which day) for drugs and alcohol. This was for everybody. I found it really helpful as a step-down from inpatient treatment. It helped me get on my feet again. Good Luck

tulips

Thanks. It sounds like I thought it would. Part of what I'm looking for is to get a new pdoc out of it--referrals if not someone involved with the PHP.

My pdoc now is useless and I've put up with him out of my apathy about getting helped. Just going through the motions. Unfortunately, he's the med director of one of the other main ones, so that one was out of the question, plus my T thought the one I'm doing an intake with would be better. But my current T is from out of town so he had to rely on my pdoc for suggestions.