The inpatient adult unit serves both males and females aged 18-50 presenting with behaviors that indicate potential risk to self, potential risk to others or significantly impaired reality testing where physical safety is in jeopardy.

The clinical philosophy of the adult unit was developed based on the premise that adults experiencing acute psychiatric crises must be empowered to take control of their own recovery in an environment that provides holistic patient centered treatment. The adult unit clinical programming is guided by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT presumes that negative thoughts and emotions are part of the human experience. As a result, “symptom reduction” by alleviating or eliminating negative thoughts and feelings is a fruitless endeavor. Instead, patients are taught to recognize negative thoughts and feelings for what they are, internal experiences that they can choose to respond to in a variety of ways. Those choices, in the end determine the recovery path for the patient. This approach normalizes the experience of mental illness and allows the patient to be an active participant in treatment and discharge planning.

The ACT groups occur daily and are led by therapist or therapy interns. There are 5 different topics covered during the week.

1. Understanding Away Moves: This group focuses on the things that we do that are self defeating, such as substance use or avoidance . Often, behaviors that we engage in that we think are managing our problems or “illnesses” ultimately cause more problems than they solve. The focus of this group is to shed light on these types of self defeating behaviors and suggest that there may be other more adaptive and healthy ways of responding.
2. Knowing our Values: Awareness of what is important to us is something we take for granted, however in the hectic world in which we live, we often lose sight of what we truly find important, what we want to stand for and who we want to be. Without this information guiding our decisions, we tend to stray from what is important and get caught up in the negative aspects of life. Knowing what is important allows us to make decisions that lead to a life that is rich, full and meaningful.
3. Defussion from Difficult Thoughts: When we have thoughts that are troubling to us, our fight or flight mechanism is triggered. This mechanism is very effective at protecting us from physical threats in the environment. When attacked by a bear, we must either fight the bear or run from it. However, the fight or flight mechanism has evolved to be triggered by internal threats as well, unpleasant thoughts and negative emotions. These responses are less effective. The more we fight or become fused with a thought, the stronger that thought becomes. Similarly, the more we try and run from a thought and hide from it., the more often it will find us. Learning about defusion, detaching from thoughts and allowing them to just “be” and understanding what little power they actually have is the first step in preventing them from impacting your choices negatively.
4. Acceptance – Opening Up: This is a mindfulness based skill that requires us to make room in our lives for all types of experiences, both positive and negative. Most of us were raised to believe the ultimate goal in life is happiness. However, sometimes, a rich full and meaningful life will lead to sadness, loss or fear. These are just as much a part of the human experience as happiness. To avoid these experiences is to avoid being human. This does not mean that you have to like sadness or look forward to anxiety. On the contrary, it means allowing them to be and recognizing them for what they are in spite of them being difficult feelings to endure.
5. Committed Action – Doing What Matters: This is where the proverbial rubber hits the road. This is where we learn to use our values to set meaningful and achievable goals in spite of all the negative thoughts and feelings that we experience. Again, the goal is not a life only full of happiness and joy, but instead a life full or meaning and richness is the desired outcome.

The Mission of the adult unit is to provide patient centered care from a multidisciplinary treatment team approach. The focus of treatment is on enhancing emotional well being and ensuring the safety of patients while normalizing and removing the stigma of mental illness. As a result, patients experience a sense of empowerment and feel in control of their own recovery. The milieu based groups are designed to reinforce skills that may have deteriorated as a result of mental illness. These include life skills needed to care for one’s self and maintain the independence and dignity of adulthood and recovery and symptom management skills needed to be successful in spite of the identified mental illness.

Treatment is multifaceted, uses biopsychosocial case conceptualization and ensures all important life domains are addressed, based on the patient’s unique developmental and cultural needs. Staff are specially equipped with multicultural training to ensure treatment is inclusive regardless of ethnicity, creed, nationality, religion, economic status, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Service Delivery

The clinical programming presented in the milieu and in therapy groups on the adult unit augments the work done by the social services department in both individual and, when indicated, couples or family therapy. Most patients receive two individual sessions a week unless such services are refused. Such exceptions should be documented in the patient record.

Treatment planning on the adult unit is driven by the therapist but guided by a multidisciplinary treatment team including psychiatry, nursing, behavioral health technicians and when necessary inpatient educators, psychological staff and expressive therapists. The treatment team meets regularly to identify progress that has been made, update the treatment plan accordingly, and oversee the discharge plan.

PHONE HOURS:

Contact Numbers: 630-837-9000
Unit extensions: 5375
10:00am – 10:30am Daily
1:00pm – 1:30pm Daily
7:30pm – 8:15pm Daily

*10 minutes call * Money/calling cards are not needed for incoming or outgoing calls*

Please be patient during these phone times as we are trying to honor everyone’s opportunity to speak to their family.

VISITING HOURS:

Tuesdays 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Wednesdays 10:00am – 11:00am
Sundays 10:00am – 11:00am

GUIDELINES FOR VISITING:

• In order to secure confidentiality of everyone and lessen distraction, we request no cell phones or cameras during visiting hours.
• For public health reasons, outside food is not allowed for patients and visitors. Vending machines are available.
• To ensure everyone’s safety, all items brought to the unit will be checked for contraband. This includes any items brought for you and personal belongings.
• We encourage your guests to leave their personal items to be left in their vehicle.
• Board games, art supplies, playing cards etc are provided for everyone’s enjoyment.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND CLOTHING:

You will need 3 changes of clothing that covers the body correctly: appropriate undergarments with no underwire, shirts that cover the abdomen area, clothes without strings, jeans and/or sweatpants and pj’s.
Please initial the inside of each item to identify you property
Laundry machines are available for you to wash your clothes
In addition, you can have 2 stuffed animals, 5 books (soft cover) and money (up to $5.00) to use for the vending machines.
We supply: Toiletries, blankets, pillows, footies and activity supplies/materials.

YOUR TREATMENT TEAM

As you can see by our treatment chart, The patient is the center of what we do every day. Led by the psychiatrist and therapist, the team will respond to a patient’s needs throughout their stay with us. Beginning with the first treatment team meeting and throughout follow-up meetings, we will constantly review a patient’s progress, getting critical input from the patient on their recovery.

PLANNING FOR DISCHARGE

Discharge planning is a multi-step task and begins the moment a patient ise admitted to our facility. Our goal is to ensure that the patient transition smoothly to outpatient care is met by the time of discharge and that the appropriate follow up appointments are scheduled. We will also work to connect the patient with other vital resources should they need help with other life areas (housing, vocational etc). If a patient does not have a therapist and/or doctor who can work with them once they leave here, we will assist in finding adequate resources their your area. If a patient is prescribed medication by the hospital psychiatrist, they will leave with a prescription for a one month supply. It is the responsibility of the outpatient physician or primary mental healthcare provider to manage medication and prescriptions following discharge.
At the time of discharge, the unit nurse will review with the patient their medication (if prescribed) and the set clinical aftercare plan. The clinical aftercare plan is developed with the patient and the treatment team during your stay and includes a safety plan, a description of triggers, warning signs, coping skills and resources to take with home with them to help maintain their health and safety outside the hospital. The discharge date will be discussed during the meetings with the doctor and your therapist. The therapist works with the patient to ensure they have arrangements for transportation home on the day of discharge.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

We encourage feedback from patients regarding the experience they had with us. Please feel free to complete a Service Excellence Counts card and place it in the suggestion box the day of discharge of hand it to any staff. We welcome all feedback in order to continuously improve out services.