What Happens When Someone is Admitted?
We understand that you or a loved one being admitted to a secure inpatient behavioral health unit can be stressful.
We’re providing this timeline of events to help put you or a loved one at ease and answer some of the questions you may have.
BEGINNING STEP: Patient has been determined by the psychiatrist in the Emergency Department to need admission to the inpatient unit.
During this time, our staff is completing ‘behind the scenes’ work that includes:
- Insurance authorizations
- Preparing an appropriate room for the patient
- Ordering medications and testing
- Completing safety interventions
STEP TWO: Once ‘behind the scenes’ items are in place, staff assist with transporting the person to the behavioral health unit they are being admitted to.
You may accompany them on this walk to the elevator, or you may depart at this time.
PLEASE NOTE: You will be asked to depart as the patient is escorted up to the unit. We ask for your understanding at this time, as the nursing staff needs to complete admission assessments and orient the patient to the unit. You are welcome to come back once you schedule a visit with the unit. You can call the unit to schedule a visit with the numbers listed at the bottom of this page. If you do not wish to visit, you may call the unit for an update on your loved one’s status.
STEP THREE: Arrival to the unit.
Upon arrival to the unit, your loved one will be introduced to the staff. Following introductions, the Charge Nurse on the unit will complete a private admission assessment which includes gathering medical and psychiatric information, current symptoms and safety concerns, and the completion of a head to toe safety assessment.
Depending on the time of arrival, the patient will be oriented to the unit, the unit programming schedule and the unit rules. If arrival is during sleeping hours, orientation will occur in the morning once your loved one has had a chance to rest.
Staff will make sure the patient has a meal or snack once they arrive to the unit, as we know that the process from Emergency Department through admission can be long.
STEP FOUR: What happens within 24 hours of admission to the unit.
Within 24 hours of admission to the unit, the patient will meet with the treatment team including the Psychiatrist and Unit Nurse. The patient will also be assigned a Social Services staff who will coordinate the treatment and discharge planning. The Social Services staff will reach out to the patient’s immediate family (parents/guardians, adult children, spouse or other significant other, etc.) once appropriate permissions have been granted by the patient (for those age 14 and older), and contact information has been obtained for those involved in the patient’s care.
At this time, you may provide your observations, concerns, and ask questions related to patient’s condition and treatment plan. Family meetings with the treatment team may be available and are scheduled through the Social Services staff. Please note that if your child is admitted over the weekend, the Social Services staff will contact you on Monday following the treatment team’s meeting with the patient.
Communicating With Us During Someone’s Stay
You are welcome to call the nurses’ station throughout your loved one’s stay.
We encourage you to be involved in their treatment.
Please be patient with the staff, as we are doing all we can to keep your loved one safe while providing programming and support.
If you call and no one is available to answer, it could be a number of reasons. Please rest assured that your loved one is in good hands, and try to call again shortly after.