The following is information that patients and visitors may find helpful.
Units Rules and Routines
School Program
School program assignments are requested at admission by the educational specialist. Bringing books and assignments to the hospital is the responsibility of the parent/child. Patients work individually on assignments. The educational specialist assists when needed. Educational testing and evaluations may be provided. The hospital can facilitate changes in school programs based on parent and treatment team recommendations. With parental consent, all schools are contacted at discharge for attendance and progress. During the summer months, enrichment programming occurs during regular school time.
- School attendance is expected.
- Daily school goals will be reviewed with the educational specialist.
- Book bags to be kept in classroom, books can be kept in room as needed.
Confidentiality
Information about the patient will be shared only with the team and others for whom a current and valid release of information is signed. You have the responsibility not to divulge any information regarding other patients or families with anyone outside the child/adolescent and family program. The patient is assigned an ID number to protect his/her confidentiality. Only parents and legal guardians will know this ID number. Treatment information concerning the patient will not be given to anyone who does not have the ID number. Staff prefers to give information only to parents and legal guardians. ID numbers are also necessary for entry onto the unit.
Clergy Visitation
If you wish your pastor/rabbi to visit on the unit and your child agrees, parents/legal guardians may give him/ her the ID number. It is important that you stress that the ID number is confidential and should not be given out to anyone else. Clergy must go to the hospital chaplain's office to check in prior to coming to the unit. Clergy visitation can be scheduled by phoning the unit. In addition, the hospital has clergy on staff that can visit upon your request.
Contraband: Drugs and Alcohol
If a local or state law has been broken in relation to drugs and alcohol while on the unit, the hospital administration and medical staff will report this action to law enforcement agencies. Prosecution may follow if warranted.
Personal Items
Our first concern will always be for the safety of your child. Consequently, the unit limits items that may be a risk to patients in the program.
Items that your child MAY have in his or her room include:
- Alarm clock (battery operated)
- Pillow, stuffed animals
- Chapstick
- Toiletries, cosmetics and shampoo
- Small cordless radio without tape recorder
- Photos (family & pets), no photo albums
- Clothing and shoes
- Journals/school books
All toiletries and cosmetics need to be in plastic containers.
Patients on precautions will have different guidelines.
Items that you MAY NOT have in your room
, but which may be signed out are:
- Razors
- Compacts
- Nail files
These need to be returned to staff as soon as you are finished with them or you may lose the privilege of using them.
Contraband
Items that are not permitted on the unit include:
- Sharp or dangerous items - scissors, knives, cigarettes, lighters, matches, pins, needles, picture frames, floral arrangements with wires or in glass containers, wire hangers, drugs, alcohol, paraphernalia, any type of weapon and toiletries in glass containers.
- Items which compromise confidentiality, disrupt the therapeutic environment or violate health and safety regulations - chewing gum, candy, food, cameras, tape recorders, CD players or cassette tapes, unsuitable magazines (magazines are available on the unit for reading), pagers and cell phones.
Clothing
Dress on the unit is informal and comfortable. Staff reserves the right to make decisions as to the appropriateness of dress at any time. We also follow health and safety regulations. The following are guidelines:
- No halter tops, tank tops, sleeveless blouses or shirts, midriffs, crop tops, skirts or dresses (tummies and chests need to be covered)
- Shorts to the knee
- Underclothing needs to be worn and should not show
- Non-revealing sleep clothes or pajamas are required at night
- Robes are worn over pajamas outside of room
- No holes in clothing above thigh level
- Shoes, socks or slippers worn at all times
- Tennis shoes or athletic shoes are needed for recreational activities
- No boots/shoes with metal tips
- No pornographic, violent or drug-oriented themes on clothing
- No writing on clothing, shoes, or bodies
- No hats
- Patients in partial program will leave coats in designated areas upon arrival to the unit.
- Valuables such as jewelry, credit cards, cell phones, pagers and cash should be sent home with family members or locked in the hospital business office. The hospital assumes no responsibility for items lost or stolen.
Giving, lending or borrowing of clothing, jewelry, personal items or money is not permitted. The hospital can not be responsible for any items that have been exchanged between patients.
Your child’s room
Room assignment is made according to space availability and clinical needs. Patients are responsible for keeping their room clean.
Visiting in other patients’ rooms and standing in the doorways is not permitted.
Room expectations:
Bed made, clothes off the floor, sink area clean, towels & dirty linen in laundry bags, furniture not to be moved per fire code. While in room, doors are to be closed except if you are placed on precautions, close observation or otherwise directed by staff.
Searches
Room searches are done while on safety precautions and at staff discretion to help insure unit safety. Search/inventory of patient belongings will be done upon admission. Patients in partial program will be searched daily upon arrival to the unit.
Property Damage
Any destruction of property will be handled both as a treatment issue and as an administrative concern. Patient/families will be expected to compensate the hospital for any damage to hospital property.
Meals
Three meals and two snacks are provided daily. We ask that families refrain from bringing food or drink onto the unit unless there is a special planned event. No food or drink, except water, is to be taken to bedrooms. Patients are asked to eat at least 50 percent of their meal in the event they want a dessert.
Partial Hospitalization:
Lunch and one snack will be provided. Bag lunch optional. PHP patients may bring breakfast on unit to be eaten before first scheduled group. Caffeine-free drinks only. No items in cans or glass.
Mail
Patients may receive letters and packages. Mail will be available at the nurses' station during afternoon snack time. Packages must be opened in the presence of a member of the staff. Outgoing mail will be collected at the nurse's station for posting. Our staff can assist patients in writing letters as needed. For patients to enjoy flowers please send after patient has completed precaution protocol.
Laundry
A washer and dryer are on the unit for patient use. Staff can assist patients with doing laundry as needed.
Armband
Upon admission to the unit, patients will be given an armband that must be worn the entire time you are on the unit. The armband ensures a patient can be easily identified by any staff member and is for your safety.
Visiting Hours
Visiting hours are Tuesday and Thursday 6-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1-2:15 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. Visitors are limited to family members 12 years old and above who live in the patient’s home, parents who share custody or have visitation privileges and legal guardians. During flu season, hospital policy may limit visitation to adult visitors only. Visiting occurs in activity room or day area but not in patient rooms. Games are available at your request.
Fire Alarm/Drills
Fire drills are held periodically on the unit. When you hear a fire alarm, follow staff's directions immediately. It is important that drills be taken seriously and that you cooperate with staff.
Physical Contact / Romantic Relationships
All patients are asked to respect the personal space of their peers. Although the unit is an emotionally supportive environment, physical contact between patients is not allowed. Romantic involvement between patients can seriously interfere with your progress and with the community as a whole. Such relationships can separate you from peers and cause problems by excluding others, creating jealously, mistrust and misunderstanding.
Honesty
Patients are asked to be completely honest with each other and with staff. This includes helping other patients remain safe and follow the rules. For example, we encourage patients to share information if they know another patient may have unsafe items in their room. This promotes an environment of caring collaboration and mutual responsibility.
Precautions
Safety precautions are established to ensure the safety of individuals who may be at higher risk on the unit. Patients may be placed on assault, suicide, or elopement precautions based on behaviors. There are specific guidelines which he or she must follow for the above precautions.
Mental Health Hearing
The State of North Carolina requires that all minors in inpatient psychiatric hospitals have a court hearing to assure outside and impartial review of the need for inpatient hospitalization. This hearing has nothing whatsoever to do with your custody or future plans and does not mean you have done anything wrong. It is to protect your civil rights and to ensure that your hospitalization is seen as necessary and in your best interest. Parents will receive notification by mail from the court of the time and place of the hearing. You will be represented free of charge by a lawyer from the Children's Law Center who will visit you prior to the court date. Your nurse can go over this procedure with you and answer any questions you may have.