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 Monday through Friday (or, as needed, on weekends) 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 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.

When discharge is against the advice of a physician, prescriptions may not be provided upon discharge.

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 or not 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
Lighters
Matches
Metal hair picks (ex. bobby pins)
Nail polish
Nail polish remover
Necklaces
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 only in the case of an emergency. 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.