Adult Partial Hospitalization Program
The Adult Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is an organized intensive, active, short term stabilization and treatment service. The program is for patients 18 years and older. We offer therapeutically intensive, structured, and coordinated clinical care within a therapeutic milieu. The general goals include:
- stabilizing clinical conditions
- reducing symptoms and impairments
- averting inpatient hospitalization
- reducing the length of inpatient stays
- providing medical necessary treatment for individuals
Patients can be admitted to the program after inpatient mental health care for further follow up support and stabilization. This program is an alternative for people who need intensive treatment but can function without an initial hospital admission.
Program Design
Our treatment team, which is directed by a psychiatrist, provides services based on individual treatment plans. Staff members include psychotherapists, registered nurses, recreation therapists and program facilitators. The treatment team will make further service recommendations and help patients set up or resume outpatient services at the time of discharge.
PHP runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. The structure of the program is based in a group setting. There are five groups each day and group participation is an expectation of the program. Patient will participate in daily programming of mindfulness, recreation, education and activity group facilitated by PHP Program Facilitators and Recreational Therapist.
Most of the therapy does occur during the daily group therapy component of the program which is facilitated by PHP Psychotherapists. Patients meet with the PHP psychiatric provider, individually, one to two times a week depending on their treatment plan. Individual therapy will occur once a week by your primary PHP Psychotherapist.
Family Therapy sessions may be offered depending on the patient’s treatment plan. The length of the program will vary for each person. This is determined by a variety of factors including, therapeutic needs, progress made on your treatment plan, and level of participation.
Most patients are in the program anywhere from one to three weeks, with 10-15 days being the average length of attendance.
Criteria for Partial Hospitalization
- Serious or disabling mental health symptoms- symptoms that would otherwise require inpatient hospitalization and the patient can be safely maintained in their living situation
- Impairments that have not improved or cannot be adequately addressed in a less intensive level of care
- Decompensating conditions affecting mental health
- Significant impairment in their ability to function within that family, school and/or work
- In adults, the individual must have the capacity for minimum engagement in the identification of goals, and a willingness to try to participate actively in the components of the program
Conduct
In maintaining a safe environment, certain expectations must be met by all program participants. Patients should treat one another with respect. If you are distressed by the behavior of anyone in the program, address these concerns with them directly if you feel comfortable doing so. If not, discuss the problem with a staff person.
Confidentiality
It is the responsibility of all group members to respect each other’s confidence by keeping what is said in group to themselves. It is not appropriate for two people to discuss another group member outside of group, nor would it be appropriate to discuss other participants with someone outside of the program. Keeping another’s confidence means that we all must use care and empathy if mutual trust is to develop among us. Information is not released to outside providers or family without your written consent. An exemption to this would be issues of child or vulnerable adult maltreatment and duty to warn as stated in mandated reporting laws..
Attendance
As a program member, you are responsible for attending all activities on time unless otherwise arranged by the program staff. It is expected that you attend daily programming and participate in all activities. *After two absences, the treatment team will review and assess if patient continues to meet the criteria of this program.
If you do not attend programming on a scheduled day, it may affect your insurance coverage. If an absence is unavoidable, you may call any of the program staff at: Phone: 320-229-5199, extension 70520.
Health Care Providers/ Appointments
While you are the Partial Hospitalization Program, other counseling, therapy, and psychiatric appointments will need to be postponed until after discharge in order to maintain insurance eligibility. Please talk to PHP staff about re-scheduling any appointments that you already have made. All insurers require that you attend PHP every day, Monday through Friday. Please discuss special health care needs with the staff.
Phone Calls
All cell phones must be turned off or on silent during programming. All electronic devices and ear buds need to be put away during all groups unless you are expecting an important phone call. This would need to be approved by staff before the group starts.
Patient-to-Patient Relationship
During your participation in the program, it is expected that in the therapeutic group activities, you feel connected to other group members. These feelings result from the sharing of common experiences, mutual emotions and often secrets not entrusted to many others.
We have observed that the patient-to-patient bonds developed within the program do not necessarily fit into post treatment lives and situations. We suggest careful considerations when plans are made to continue relationship outside of the partial hospitalization program. These relationships have been known to be disruptive to the therapeutic process and are treatment interfering behavior.
Medications
During the nursing assessment, all psychiatric medications that you will be taking are reviewed and medication education will be provided to all participants. While in the Partial Hospitalization Program, all medication will be self-administered. If you have questions about your medications, or are experiencing any bothersome side effects, please inform the program staff. Please notify nursing staff of any herbal supplements and other non-prescribed substances you are using, as well as your daily caffeine intake.
Meals
A meal ticket is provided for purchase of food in the café as part of the PHP. You may bring your own lunch or purchase food in the café. Please bring leftover food home at the end of the due to Health Department Standards; otherwise it will be disposed of no later than for following morning. A coffeemaker, ice/water machine and refrigerator will be provided for your use. Inform staff of special dietary needs. To keep this space enjoyable, please be respectful and clean up after yourself.
Attire
Casual, comfortable, modest clothing is most appropriate for participation in the program. Certain activities, such as recreational therapy, may involve some light physical exercise. You will need to dress accordingly. Due to allergies and sensitivities to fragrances, please do not use colognes, perfumes or scented lotions while participating in the partial program.
Chemicals
Attendance in the program while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs is not allowed. It has been shown that alcohol and drugs interfere with the effectiveness of medications and therapy opportunities.
Smoking
The St. Cloud Hospital is a non-smoking facility; therefore, smoking is not permitted on the campus grounds. The use of any tobacco products including chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes is permitted for use during the lunch break only and must be consumed either in your vehicle or off the campus grounds.
Safety
Safety is a primary concern in the partial hospitalization program, both relative and personal safety, as well as the environment that you are going home to. If at any time you feel unsafe, please inform the staff immediately so we can develop a safety plan.
Helpful Guidelines
- Each person has the responsibility for being direct and honest about everything related to their treatment
- Each person has the responsibility to tell program staff about any changes in their health
- Each person will meet with the program staff, who will help establish and review treatment goals throughout their treatment. It is important to ask for clarification if you don’t understand your goals while in the partial program
- Each person has the responsibility to be considerate of the rights of other group members and program staff
- Each person has the responsibility to respect the confidentiality of other group members
Patients Are Urged to:
- Speak up if you have questions. If you don’t understand, ask again
- Pay attention to the care that you are receiving. Making sure you’re getting the right treatments and medication by the right health care professionals
- Educate yourself about your diagnosis, medical tests that you may be undergoing, and your treatment plan
- Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate
- Know what medications you take and why you take them
- Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has undergone rigorous on-site evaluation such as those that are approved by The Joint Commission
- Participate in all decisions about your treatment
