I have to agree with the reviews about "care" for loved ones who are experiencing mental illness…read more After taking my adolescent child to the Psychiatric CPEP, I was first told by the social worker that my child was feeling anxious about the 1st day of school and repeatedly talked over me. He discounted a long history of chid's severe depression and anxiety, as well as a history of chronic pain and illness. He also dismissed statements that child feared hurting themselfand others.
Thank God I travel with medical paperwork to substantiate the several medical and psychological issues and I was finally told they would "hold on to" my child.
Where the keep the kids should be illegal, but I do understand that they have to maintain safethy. But they could do more as the environment was scary and the adults were indifferent. My child was evaluated by a psychiatrist during the night and I was called and asked if I was comfortable taking child home. I was also told they do not prescribe medication in CPEP and I was directed to follow up with Children's Psych Center, (although they don't take our insurance) or another provider for outpatient therapy. I was not comfortable and said so.
Child was evaluated again by another psychiatrist and after discussion, it was agreed to have child moved up to the Adolescent Behavioral Unit. My husband and I met with child's counselor and was told that he agreed child was not safe to go home, child needed to be medicated, (which would take 4-6 weeks to start taking effect), and child would be evaluated weekly to determine safety. I was also told counselor would work with child on skills to address some identified concerns. As parents, we felt relieved that child would begin a treatment in a safe environment and would be released when child became more stable.
That afternoon I was called by a doctor in the unit. I was told that what the counselor had said was incorrect and should not have shared that information with us. I was also told we don't keep kids for that length of time (which we didn't know at the time) and that "we don't do that here" when I asked why she wasn't getting a supplement required to help manage a suymptom child's health condition (even though the pharm said it wouldn't be a problem). The doctor who spoke to me was very dismissive rude and again like the s.w. in CPEP, repeateldy spoke over me.
As time went on, child continued to express highly concerning statements, so I was very suprised to have the social worker contact me and say that the dr. wanted to discharge child the next day. I explained my concerns and fears (child was only on a few days of meds and was expressing terrifying statements) and the s.w. said she would speak to the dr. I was called the next day to say that he was still planning to discharge her. After I stated that child was not safe to come home, s.w. talked to the dr. and he called me shortly after. He didn't care about my concerns and again talked over me and I had to ask to have my turn to talk. I was told that my child had a specific mental illness without an evaluation, a condition that other providers - including in the CPEP - disagreed with. I said again child couldn't come home as we couldn't keep child safe. Dr. said he would list child "as no where to go."
At this point child was engaging in self-harm with a safety pencil in the unit and gave child several wounds. Nursing staff was unconcered.
Now, I am just a parent. I have never had anything to do with the field of mental health. I was terrified to bring child home and was encouraged by other medical providers not to bring child home as we couldn't ensure child's safety. I asked for some other step down or longer term program to have child stabilized before release. There was no empathy at all. My child was getting worse and worse in the unit, so after calling anyone and everyone for help - and believe me there is no help available to help prevent a crisis - the only thing I could do was take child home.
Again, I am not familiar with this world and I can admit when I'm wrong, child is doing better at home, but continues to be very unsafe and I have had to take a leave from my job to watch child. The referral I was given was to a counseling service whose office worker gave me another patient pyschiatric evaluation with my child's intial paperwork, but that's another story. We will not follow up with this counseling due to Hippa violations.
Finally, child's prescribtion was not being filled by the phramacy and was under "review" for 2 days. I called phramacy and was told the script was sent by a provider who's license had expired (???). My child went for 2 days without medication .
I know this review is long, but I believe you need to understand the lack of care, empathy, and understanding for families that are experiencing the worst moments of their lives. I hope we never have to go through this experience again, but if we do, we will avoid this hospital at all costs.
