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Are
your treatment programs specific to adolescent patients? |
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How
do you handle the needs of patients who have physical
health problems? |
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Do
you have programs for patients who have used alcohol
or drugs? |
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Do
you accept court-committed patients? |
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What
about kids who have been in trouble with the law? |
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Young
people, in or out of the hospital, have a lot of
energy. How do you meet their needs for physical
activity? |
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May
I telephone, write, and visit my child? Are home
trips possible? |
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Do
you prescribe medication? |
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What
is the difference between a hospital unit and a residential
unit? |
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How
can my family participate in my child’s care? |
|
What
insurance plans do you accept? |
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Will
my child be able to continue school while at Foundations? |
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How do I enroll my child in the LifeWorks
Alternative School? |
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Who
will be treating my child? |
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How
will I know when my child is ready to come home
or move to a different level of treatment?
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|
|
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Are
your treatment programs specific to adolescent patients? |
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Yes, we offer groups, reading
materials, and motivational programs specially designed
to appeal to the 8–18 year old age group. Foundations
also offers specialized outpatient programs for kids
ages 3 and up, and a Transitional Residential Treatment
Program for youngsters up to 21 years old. All of our
staff are trained and experienced in treatment of young
people. Grade-appropriate education is provided on-site
in our Learning Center. Our campus also has a gymnasium,
sports court, exercise programs, games, and other activities
for recreation and health. We design our menus and snacks
around the needs and preferences of our child and adolescent
patients.
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How
do you handle the needs of patients who have physical
health problems? |
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Foundations Behavioral Health employs
an on-staff internist/family practitioner who provides
a daily clinic for youngsters with physical health problems.
Doctors are also available on-call, 24 hours a day. Patients
are taken to local practitioners for specialized treatment,
if needed, in areas such as gynecology, dermatology,
and dentistry. Foundations contracts with Doylestown
Hospital, a JCAHO-accredited medical-surgical hospital
to provide emergency room and hospital-based treatment
for any patient who becomes seriously ill. Doylestown
Hospital is less than five minutes from Foundations.
In addition, nurses, dietitians and other staff members
are trained to manage common illnesses, including asthma,
diabetes, and minor infections.
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Do
you have programs for patients who have used alcohol
or drugs? |
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Foundations is licensed as a psychiatric/behavioral
health facility. However, young people with emotional
problems often use drugs or alcohol. Since drug and alcohol
use is very common in today’s world, we evaluate
all new patients to determine whether they could benefit
from special substance abuse education groups. We provide
drug and alcohol education for adolescents who have experienced
difficulties in this area, and psychotherapy addresses
related issues.
|
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Do
you accept court-committed patients? |
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Although
the great majority of our patients are voluntary, we
do accept patients who have been involuntarily committed.
|
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What
about kids who have been in trouble with the law? |
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We work collaboratively with
juvenile justice system professionals to meet the special
needs of patients referred by the courts. Adolescents
with emotional problems often have had run-ins with the
law, as well as difficulty getting along in school and
with their families. We feel that trouble with the law
may be as much a cry for help as other symptoms, and
our staff is trained to recognize and treat these troubled
youngsters. However, we do not accept patients who require
prison confinement to protect society.
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|
Young
people, in or out of the hospital, have a lot of
energy. How do you meet their needs for physical
activity?
|
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Foundations has an on-site gymnasium where year-round
activities are available to every hospital, residential
and partial hospital patient. In addition, there is
an outdoor sports court and sports field for softball,
volleyball, basketball, hockey and other games. A recreational
therapist schedules planned activities throughout the
week. Arrangements are made for special field trips
to parks, museums, libraries, swimming in summer, and
other places of interest.
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May
I telephone, write, and visit my child? Are home
trips possible? |
|
We encourage family members to maintain
frequent contact with our patients and to participate
in their treatment. You will be given information on
the best times to call and visit. We ask that advance
notice be given for most visits. We have open visitation
on weekends, usually between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Your child may also call or write to you. Home visit
frequency depends on your child’s treatment needs
or on the program he or she is enrolled in. For example,
home visits are usually more frequent when a child is
in the residential program, rather than the hospital
program.
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Do
you prescribe medication? |
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After a thorough diagnostic work-up,
your child’s physician may prescribe medication
specific to his or her needs. You and your child will
be advised of the recommended medication, its benefits
and potential side effects. Medication is administered
by licensed nurses who carefully monitor the child to
make sure their medication and dosage is correct. Our
pharmacy also monitors every patient’s drug regimen.
Medication works in conjunction with behavioral therapies.
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What
is the difference between a hospital unit and a residential
unit? |
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Hospital units are reserved for patients
in a more acute stage of illness. During an inpatient
stay, the initiation of a medication regime may require
very careful observation of its effects. The hospital
unit is also an ideal place to observe how the patient
responds to other types of treatment. If a patient has
thoughts of harming him/herself or others, the greater
security of a hospital unit is important. The need for
significant medical as well as psychiatric observation
may require a higher level of staffing. Patients on residential
units typically have had their medication regimen stabilized
and are not considered dangerous to self or others. Usually,
patients have had some experience in psychotherapy and
self-examination, as well as development of self-control,
and are prepared to work on their problems. These patients
may benefit by more hours spent in expressive therapies,
in substance abuse education, or other specialized groups.
If age appropriate, they may even do volunteer or part-time
work in a supervised environment.
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How
can my family participate in my child’s care? |
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The family is a significant part of the
admission and treatment process. During admission, we
will particularly want to get your viewpoints on your
child’s problems and what you see as the goals
for treatment. You will be given the name and telephone
number of your child’s primary therapist as well
as the psychiatrist. Families are encouraged to call
us with questions and concerns. You will be sent copies
of every treatment plan and will be informed of the use
of medications and the reasons for their use. Family
therapy sessions will be scheduled to meet your needs.
Our staff works closely with you toward the goal of returning
the child to the home or to another level of care.
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What
insurance plans do you accept? |
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Foundations participates in Medicaid
and in most major local insurance company benefit packages.
In special cases and in consultation with the family,
we will endeavor to obtain out-of-network coverage for
our services.
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Will
my child be able to continue school while at Foundations? |
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Foundations has an on-site learning center
that is staffed by experienced, certified teachers from
the Bucks County Intermediate Unit. Patients in residential
units and longer stay hospital patients typically attend
school for five and a half hours a day during the school
year. Foundations also arranges for tutors to work with
young people in the Partial Hospital Program to further
their education. Each spring, the teachers, students
and our staff collaborate on a ceremony to wrap up the
school year. Parents and significant others are invited
to attend.
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How do I enroll my
child in the LifeWorks Alternative School? |
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Students in grades sixth through twelfth
are eligible to enroll and attend LifeWorks Alternative
School. Generally, students are referred through their
school districts, but families may pay privately as well.
After the initial referral, an intake and tour is set
up for the student and family. Following acceptance into
the school, the student can begin to attend and is transported
by the school district on a daily basis. For more information,
please call 215-340-1500, ext 193.
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Who
will be treating my child? |
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The psychiatrist is the head of your
child’s treatment team and is responsible for overseeing
his/her treatment plan. Your child will also have a primary
therapist who provides group and individual therapy.
Social workers, psychologists, recreational or expressive
therapists, registered nurses, or other professionals
who are a part of your child’s treatment team may
also provide therapy groups. Specially trained mental
health technicians, working under direction of a registered
nurse and primary therapist, will assist your child with
the activities of daily living. A medical doctor, internist
or family practitioner, provides daily clinic and 24-hour
on-call for physical problems. A dietitian is on staff
to help with special nutritional needs.
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How
will I know when my child is ready to come home or
move to a different level of treatment? |
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Your child’s psychiatrist and primary
therapist will constantly reevaluate your child for progress
in treatment and will encourage readiness to return home
or step down to a less intensive level of care, such
as outpatient treatment. We will consult with you and
with your managed care provider to arrange for the most
effective and safe discharge, which may include ongoing
treatment for your child. |
