What to Expect During an Inpatient Hospital Stay
The first time you are admitted to a mental health center can be an intimidating and stressful experience. Our goal is to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. This guide will help you understand what to expect at admission and during your stay.
Your time with us is intended to restore emotional stability in the least restrictive environment possible. Our open, barrier-free environment is designed to allow you freedom to find a space you feel most comfortable, give you access to staff members at all times, and keep you safe. Throughout your visit, you will gain tools to help develop self-awareness and insight and effective coping skills. We will also connect you with community resources to continue your treatment after discharge.
What are Inpatient Services?
Jonas Hill Hospital provides short-term crisis stabilization for those who have a mental illness and/or mental illness with co-occurring substance use disorder. The program therapies and activities are designed to improve coping skills, encourage independence, self-reliance and provide education in management of mental illness and addiction.
Inter-Disciplinary Team
Our highly skilled staff includes board-certified psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, nursing assistants; licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical addictions specialist, as well as state licensed recreational therapists.
How Long Will I Stay?
The length of your stay is based on your individual needs and personalized treatment plan. The treatment team meets every day to discuss treatment options for each patient and determine an appropriate discharge plan.
Discharge Planning
Your treatment team will work with you to set realistic discharge goals and arrangements. A social worker will work with community agencies to arrange follow-up sessions and referrals. You, your treatment team and your physician will determine your discharge dates. If you wish to leave before the recommended discharge date, you must submit a written request for discharge. Your physician will then meet with you to discuss your request.
North Carolina State Law states that a patient may be kept in the hospital for up to 72 hours while a discharge status is determined. During the 72-hour period, a physician will determine if a patient requires further observation and whether the patient is a danger to themselves or others. Patients that violate Jonas Hill Hospital policies or create an unsafe environment may be administratively discharged.
What is Expected of You?
During hospitalization, you are expected to participate in all group therapy sessions and scheduled activities as part of your treatment. The group sessions and activities are designed to enhance socialization, communication, coping skills, education and relapse prevention.
Dress Code
You are encouraged to be dressed every day. Comfortable street clothes are recommended. Refrain from clothing that is revealing or has suggestive writing; examples would be drinking logos, sexually provocative, cursing, etc.
Patients may not have belts, strings, ties or laces. Only bring enough clothing for three days. Good hygiene is strongly encouraged. Staff may assist with shaving needs as they arise.
Personal Belongings
Personal belongings are checked upon admission by staff members for the protection and safety of all patients and staff. Objects that may be considered dangerous are inventoried and kept in a secure area. Jonas Hill Hospital staff reserves the right to assess all items for safety regardless if it is included in the list below.
Prohibited Items
Items NOT permitted on the unit include, but are not limited to:
- Medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. If medication is found in a patient's belongings, it will be sent home or inventoried and secured at the time of admission.
- All products that list alcohol as one of the first three (3) ingredients.
- Balloons
- Bandanas
- Cameras
- Cell phones
- Computers of any kind
- Activity trackers (ex. Fitbit)
- Smart watches
- Duffel bags
- Electrical cords
- Nail files
- Glass
- Hair dye
- Hoodies (strings must be removed)
- Lighters
- Matches
- Metal hair picks (ex. bobby pins)
- Nail polish
- Nail polish remover
- Necklaces
- Outside hygiene items (unless ordered by a physisican)
- Pantyhose
- Perfume or cologne
- Plastic bags
- Purses
- Ropes
- Scarves
- Soda cans
- Steel toed boots
- Strings
- Ribbons
- Bows
- Razors
- Hair dryers
- Curling/flat irons
- Suitcases
- Wave caps
- Weapons
- MP3 Players or lpods
- Hoodies
- E-cigs or vaporizers
Items Stored in the Safe
Any items that are stored in the safe must remain there until the patient is discharged from Jonas Hill Hospital.
Items that must be stored in the safe include, but are not limited to:
- Cell phones
- Checks
- Credit cards
- Driver's license or other government issued IDs
- Food stamps
- Insurance cards
- Keys
- Money
- Medicaid/Medicare cards
- Necklaces or jewelry
- Wallets
- Tobacco products
- Any other items that the patient would like to keep secure
Daily Schedule
The Program Schedule
The program schedule is posted in the unit commons area. The program allows some free periods to give patients time to reflect and to use knowledge learned in group therapy. Group participation is highly encouraged to learn beneficial coping skills in conjunction with medication stabilization.
Bedtimes
In order to encourage and maintain a healthy lifestyle, you are asked to be in bed by 11:00 pm. Patients need plenty of rest to focus on improving their health and wellness. At bedtime the phones are turned off and the group rooms are closed and will not reopen until 6:00 am.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the patient dining room. Snacks are provided three times daily in addition to scheduled meals. All patients are observed during meals to ensure safety.
Laundry
A washer and dryer are available on the unit for staff to assist patients with laundry. Linens are located in the clean supply room across from the nurses’ station. Patients are responsible for changing their own linens which should be changed as often as needed. Please do not mix laundry with other patients. Linens are for use on the unit and may not be taken home.
Medical Records
A medical record on each patient’s progress and treatment is kept during hospitalization. The medical record is a confidential document that cannot be shared with anyone other than the patient’s treatment team, unless authorized by the patient. The medical record contains information on each patient’s progress and evaluations. Questions regarding the medical record may be asked. Patients must request a release of information from medical records to receive their chart. Medical records requested will be available two (2) weeks after the discharge date. You can also sign up on My UNC chart as instructed in your discharge paperwork. Upon discharge, patients will be asked to sign a release of information form that allows our staff to send a discharge summary to your primary care physician and any referral agencies.
Personal Boundaries
Family members may call the nurses’ station to speak to patients. However, your presence on the unit will only be acknowledged if the person’s name appears on your Release of Information Communication List found in your medical record. Family involvement is at the request of the patient or family with the patient’s consent or to formulate discharge plans. Social workers will assist patients with phone calls requiring confidentiality.
Spiritual Needs
Psychiatric Services staff recognizes that patients also have spiritual needs. Patients who wish to meet with their own minister or spiritual advisor may do so by appointment.
Visitation
Patient visitation hours are Monday through Friday 6 p.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Two visitors are permitted per patient and must be 18 years old. Exceptions to these visitation guidelines must be scheduled through a social worker.
