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Of the 5.4 million people who sought mental health treatment in
1990, less than 7% required hospitalization. More than half of
those who needed inpatient-care had schizophrenia, one of the most
severe forms of mental illness. If you or someone you know may have
a mental illness, the chances are that you will not need
hospitalization. But, if you do, the following information will
help assure you of the best care possible.
Questions To Ask
- Has the person been professionally evaluated? By whom? Do I
understand the diagnosis?
- If the patient has not been evaluated, why am I seeking
admission for the person?
- a) A doctor's recommendation?
- b) Need to have patient removed from family situation? Why?
Because of behavioral problems? What are they? Because family
cannot care for him or her? Why?
- c) What symptoms is the patient exhibiting which cause
concern?
Ask the Hospital/Treatment
Center at Check-In
- Does your facility treat patients only for this specific
diagnosis?
- If the patient has other health or emotional problems will
he/she receive treatment for these problems also?
- Does your facility require tests when admitted? If so, what are
they?
- Who will perform these tests?
- Who will evaluate the patient when he/she is admitted?
- What are the person's qualifications/ title?
- Will this person continue to treat the patient?
- Will the patient be seen by this professional on a regular
basis?
- When will the initial evaluation take place?
During the Patient's
Stay
- When can I (or another family member) talk to the therapist or
doctor?
- Will we be able to discuss treatment with the doctor or
therapist? When? How often?
- When can family members visit? For how long?
- Will the patient be allowed to receive phone calls?
- Will the patient have a daily schedule of activities or
treatments?
- If so, what activities will the patient be involved in? Is
therapy group or private and is it part of the treatment plan?
- What clothes should the patient bring?
- How long will the patient be at the facility? Who makes this
decision?
- Will the family be advised of changes in treatment?
- Who will make the evaluation for discharging the patient? When
will this happen?
Leaving the Hospital
- Will someone advise the patient and family about adjustment
concerns such as the need for further counseling or a medication
schedule?
- What can we expect when the patient is discharged?
- Will he/she be on medications? Which ones?
- How will these medications help? Are they habit-forming? What
are the side effects? What is the dosage?
- How long will the patient have to take this medication?
- If the patient leaves the hospital without permission how will
the hospital handle this?
- If this occurs, what is the parent or family's
responsibility?
- Will the patient be able to continue school work while in the
hospital? Or how soon after he or she is discharged?
- If classes are offered to patients, what are they and who
teaches them?
- What follow-up treatment or support group options should the
family and patient consider?
Financial and Insurance
Issues
Ask the treatment center and/or
insurance company the following questions:
- Does the hospital accept this type of insurance? If not, what
are the alternatives? If it does, what is covered?
- Can coverage be reviewed with a member of the staff?
- Are there separate charges and how much are they for
physicians, therapists or caretakers? What may these separate
charges be?
- How are fees assessed?
- When will billing occur?
- If insurance only covers part of the cost, what other
arrangements can be made for payments?
- Is there other assistance available? Will the facility accept
partial payments or payments on a schedule?
Ask The Therapist:
- What can the patient and family expect during the treatment
process?
- What can be the expected reactions/behaviors of the
patient?
- How should the family respond?
- How can the patient and family prepare for unexpected behavior
and possible setbacks?
For More Information
Call Ten Broeck Hospital at 502-426-6380 or 1-800-866-8876
Contact your local Mental Health Association, community mental
health center, or
National Mental
Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental Health Resource Center 800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Public Inquiries and Information Resources
5600 Fishers Lane, Rm 7C-02
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone 301-443-4513
Also read NMHA’s "Mental Illness in
the Family: Recognizing the Warning Signs and How to Cope."
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