Mental Health
Friends Hospital Opens Philadelphia's First Recovery-Oriented Inpatient Psychiatric Care Unit
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Jan 15, 2010 - 8:10:33 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - PHILADELPHIA-January 15, 2010-Today Friends Hospital, the 200-year-old psychiatric hospital in Northeast Philadelphia, celebrated the opening of the city's first recovery-oriented inpatient psychiatric care unit. The opening of the new unit marks a pivotal transition to this cutting-edge new paradigm for mental health care, and extends the Philadelphia region's national leadership in championing recovery-oriented care.

In recovery-oriented care, patients are helped to re-forge ties to their community, their families, and develop new hobbies and pursuits. They are counseled by peer-support specialists, guides who have been through the process and emerged on the other side with their life in tact, and a new plan for living.

The movement to recovery-oriented care for the mentally ill and addicted stands in contrast to traditional models where the focus is on getting the patient stabilized, medicated, and discharged. Recovery-oriented care is viewed as an important tool to reduce recidivism and improve patient outcomes.

"Recovery-oriented care can drive some of the most remarkable life changes I have ever seen in my 20 years as a clinician," says Dr. Ken Glass, Chief Executive Officer of Friends Hospital. "Recovery from mental illness and addiction is always possible, but it happens most effectively when the patient embraces their program of care and is an active and engaged participant in their treatment. In recovery-oriented care, we make this possible by speaking to the individual's soul, not just their symptoms. I am energized by Friends' leadership role in bringing this innovative paradigm for inpatient mental health care to Philadelphia."

At the ribbon cutting today, Friends Hospital officially opened a 24-bed inpatient, acute care psychiatric unit based upon the principles of the recovery model. Friends Hospital staff will create a collaborative, working relationship with each patient to identify goals that will lead to a successful road to recovery. The ultimate goal is for each patient to leave with a new life plan that incorporates continued therapy with each individual's interests, support systems, hobbies, strengths, community connections, and aspirations. The life plan is self-written and focused on positive psychology based on hopes and dreams, not just symptoms, medication, and counseling appointments.

"I am tremendously excited and pleased that Friends Hospital has chosen to implement recovery-oriented inpatient services," says Dr. Arthur Evans, Director of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services. "I have long believed that the journey of recovery begins at the point that a person reaches out for help and throughout their journey in the treatment system and beyond. Inpatient services play a crucial role in people's recovery, and the fact that Friends is taking seriously and responding to the national call to improve recovery outcomes for individuals with behavioral health conditions is commendable. Friends has an incredible opportunity to become a national leader in this area, and the department is 100 percent behind these efforts."

Upon admission at Friends Hospital's new unit, each individual will be assessed to determine whether or not the recovery unit will be the right fit for them. Friends still operates a number of general and specialty units, including older adult, eating disorder, young adult, and more. In the program, each patient will have individualized treatment that speaks to their strengths and needs. Alternative therapies will be incorporated, including music, art, horticulture, and dance. A team of certified peer specialists will work closely with patients on the unit, to share their own experiences and connect them with a network of aftercare.

The unit will be revolutionary from the patient care down to the look and feel. Daily activities will be different than a traditional inpatient psychiatric setting, and it will feel more like a home, than a hospital.

For more information on Friends Hospital and the opening of the new unit, please contact: Michelle Larkin at 610-228-2117 or Michelle@GregoryFCA.com.

ABOUT FRIENDS HOSPITAL

Friends Hospital, founded by Quakers in 1813 in Philadelphia, Pa., is the nation's first private psychiatric hospital, combining the principles of the Quaker philosophy of moral treatment, with a modern approach to the care of mental and emotional illnesses. Today, Friends Hospital is recognized as one of the premier behavioral health hospitals in the United States, treating more than 6,000 patients each year through its inpatient programs and 12,000 outpatients through its Admissions and Assessment Center. The Hospital staff is skilled at treating virtually all psychiatric diagnoses, providing individualized programs for women, adolescents, adults, older adults, and eating disorders. Friends Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Friends Hospital is owned by Psychiatric Solutions, Inc., the largest operator of owned or leased freestanding psychiatric inpatient facilities, and The Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation, a Quaker-based, philanthropic, grant-making foundation in the Philadelphia region. For more information, please visit http://www.FriendsHospital.com.

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