What happens when your loved one needs to go from an acute medical hospital to an acute psychiatric hospital?
In this quick tip, I’m breaking down what an acute psychiatric hospital actually is, how it differs from an acute medical hospital, and why getting your loved one there can sometimes be incredibly difficult. One of the biggest challenges is access. There simply aren’t enough psychiatric hospital beds in many communities, and specialized care—like geriatric psychiatry—can be even harder to find.
If you’re already in the hospital and you’re starting to think, “My loved one is medically better, but they’re still not safe to go home,” I want you to understand what needs to happen next and why it’s important to start planning early.
In this episode, I explain:
- What acute psychiatric care looks like and how it differs from the medical care your loved one is receiving in the hospital.
- Why access can make psychiatric transfers so difficult, including limited beds, distance, and the need for specialized psychiatric care.
- How you can start planning early by connecting with the psychiatry team, hospitalist, and social work so you’re not waiting until the last minute to figure out where your loved one needs to go.
Listen to this quick tip so you can better understand the acute psychiatric hospital transfer process and know what steps to take early to help your loved one get the care they need.
Prescription for Admission is a podcast for Gen X and Millennial family caregivers navigating the healthcare system and medical system for loved ones living with conditions like diabetes, dementia, cancer, heart disease, and cognitive decline, helping them understand hospital care, navigate hospital stays, work effectively with doctors and specialists, organize medical records, connect with a case manager, seek a second opinion, become an effective medical advocate, and improve care coordination and discharge planning.
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Prescription for Admission is a resource to help you navigate healthcare with confidence. Remember, you are your own best advocate.
