| Being admitted to a psychiatric facility can occur in | | | | allowed on the unit due to the presence of some |
| one of two ways. Either you admit yourself as a | | | | type of string/belt or due to the type of |
| voluntary patient, or sign yourself in, as it is called; | | | | decoration on it (no tee-shirts with violence, drug |
| or you are being admitted as an involuntary | | | | or gang emblems). Your shoe strings will be |
| patient, on some type of "order of protection" by | | | | removed as well as all belts. |
| police, doctors, or therapists. In some states, | | | | 7. You can expect staff to monitor your location |
| even a concerned family member can have you | | | | every 15 minutes in a 24hour period, that includes |
| involuntarily admitted for evaluation. | | | | during the night. |
| As a voluntary patient, you are actively seeking | | | | 8. You will attend groups with people from all |
| help and realize that you are not acting | | | | walks of life; some will not make much sense; |
| responsibly. You may even fear that you will act | | | | some may not look very clean and nice. |
| rashly and possibly hurt yourself or others. In any | | | | 9. If you lose control of your behavior - either |
| case, you want to be in the psychiatric hospital | | | | you become so angry that you act out or you |
| and get help. | | | | become disconnected from reality--the staff will |
| - What to expect as a "voluntary" patient- | | | | intervene to assist you in regaining control. |
| | | | 10. You will be encouraged to talk about your |
| 1. You will be allowed to sign all admission | | | | thoughts and feelings with staff. |
| paperwork. | | | | 11. You will be asked questions regularly that |
| 2. You will work with your doctor and therapist | | | | pertain to your ability to maintain your safety. |
| and nurse to develop your plan of care | | | | Staff will actively monitor you to provide for your |
| 3. You will be expected to attend all groups and | | | | safety and your security during your stay. |
| activities assigned for your treatment | | | | 12. Staff will not be put off by anything you say |
| 4. You can ask to be released when you feel | | | | or do, and will actively want to help you find |
| better | | | | solutions to your issues. |
| As an involuntary patient, someone else has | | | | - What not to expect as a patient in a psychiatric |
| made a petition to the legal community to have | | | | facility- |
| you evaluated for anywhere from 24 to 72 hours | | | | |
| in a psychiatric facility based on specific behaviors | | | | 1. You will not be allowed to break any of the |
| and statements. You may or may not know | | | | numerous rules, no matter who you are. |
| what is going on; you may or may not want to | | | | 2. You cannot behave aggressively and get your |
| be there but the fact is you will be held "against | | | | way. |
| your will" until a doctor evaluates you and decides | | | | 3. You will not have the undivided attention of any |
| you no longer pose a threat to yourself or | | | | of the staff. In this facility, staff act in unison as a |
| others.As an involuntary patient, someone else | | | | team and all will be dealing with you at various |
| has made a petition to the legal community to | | | | times throughout the day. |
| have you evaluated for anywhere from 24 to 72 | | | | 4. Things you tell staff will not be kept "secret" |
| hours in a psychiatric facility based on specific | | | | from the rest of the treatment team. Your |
| behaviors and statements. You may or may not | | | | privacy will be monitored and your HIPPA rights |
| know what is going on; you may or may not | | | | will be guarded, but things said in treatment will be |
| want to be there but the fact is you will be held | | | | shared with the treatment team in its entirety to |
| "against your will" until a doctor evaluates you and | | | | facilitate your improvement. |
| decides you no longer pose a threat to yourself | | | | 5. You will not engage in any personal relationships |
| or others. | | | | with staff during or after treatment as a patient. |
| - What to expect as an "involuntary" patient- | | | | 6. You will not visit the unit after discharge to see |
| | | | "friends" made during your treatment. Most |
| 1. You may be allowed to sign some of the | | | | facilities restrict ex-patients from being allowed to |
| admission paperwork, but do not need to sign | | | | return to visit current patients for several months. |
| yourself in | | | | - When will you be discharged- |
| 2. You can work with your doctor, nurse and | | | | |
| therapist to develop a plan of care, but may not | | | | 1. Discharge will be decided by your behavior and |
| be able to do so at the time of admission | | | | your willingness to participate in treatment. |
| 3. You will be expected to attend all groups and | | | | 2. You may request to leave if you are a |
| activities assigned for your treatment, even if you | | | | voluntary patient, but may not be allowed to do |
| do not want to or do not agree that you need to | | | | so based on the physicians concern for your |
| 4. You can not expect to be discharged just | | | | continued safety or the safety of others. |
| because you ask to leave | | | | 3. As an involuntary patient, you may be allowed |
| - What to expect as a patient in a psychiatric | | | | to sign yourself in if you agree to remain for |
| facility- | | | | treatment or you may have to go to court to |
| | | | have a judge hear both sides of the issue. |
| 1. The first difference you will notice is that few | | | | 4. In either case, there is a definite process that |
| rooms are private. | | | | must be followed and will be based on safety |
| 2. There are no telephones in the rooms. Family | | | | concerns and your ability to make safe decisions. |
| and friends will have to give some type of code | | | | As you can see, there are similarities between |
| # before being allowed in to visit or before being | | | | medical and psychiatric hospitals--both are staffed |
| allowed to talk with you on the phone. | | | | by doctors, nurses, social workers, and clinical |
| 3. There are no televisions in the rooms. You will | | | | assistants. Both are involved with improving your |
| watch television in a day area and it will be a | | | | condition - either physical(medical) or |
| communal activity. | | | | psychological(psychiatric) - and getting you back |
| 4. Your belongings will be gone through and | | | | into your life as soon as possible. Both provide |
| several items you regularly use at home will not | | | | treatment to facilitate your improvement and |
| be allowed on the units. Some things will be | | | | offer some type of after-care plan. |
| allowed, but must be monitored when used. | | | | But there are significant difference also. It is in the |
| 5. You will not be allowed to stay in bed all day. | | | | differences that you may become confused at an |
| 6. You will wear regular clothes instead of hospital | | | | already trying time in your life. Hopefully, this will |
| gowns. Some of your favorite clothes will not be | | | | eliminate some of the confusion for you. |