Partial Hospital Program
"What will best meet the need?" It's a question you as a professional ask often in reference to people with psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorders. Able to function in some areas of life, but not in others, they require less than total hospitalization, but more than periodic outpatient therapy.
For many individuals, the program that provides the appropriate level of care is Partial Hospital Program (PHP). Begun in 1985, PHP offers an intensive team approach that focuses on the individual needs of each patient. It can be used in several ways: as an alternate to inpatient care for individuals who do not require overnight supervision, as a transition from the hospital to the community or as intense outpatient care.
Located at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, PHP provides a safe, supportive, caring environment to help people improve their day-to-day functioning and ultimately improve their quality of life. The program is licensed as an outpatient addiction treatment provider in the state of North Dakota. It is also a member of the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare.
Who can benefit?
PHP offers customized care to individuals with single or dual diagnoses including:
- Anxiety Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Mood Disorders
- Chemical Dependency
- Chronic Pain
- Psychotic Disorders
Criteria for admission to PHP may include:
- Primary psychiatric diagnosis
- Moderate potential for dangerous behavior (danger to self/others)
- Moderate impairment of functional status
Length of time participants spend in program
The length of time spent in PHP varies from person to person, depending on the individual's needs and progress. The average tends to be two to three weeks, with progress re-evaluated weekly.
Individuals spend a prescribed number of hours per day in the program. A typical schedule will be 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays or 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the eating disorder track. Again, this can vary widely depending on the need. At the end of the day, patients return to their homes or communities. A distinct benefit in this arrangement is the individual has the opportunity to put into practice what was learned during the day, then come back to the program the next day and debrief. Patients learn by doing.
An experienced, multidisciplinary team
Led by an on-site psychiatrist, the PHP multidisciplinary team works closely with individuals in the program, helping them overcome obstacles and reach their goals. This results-oriented, cohesive team communicates with each other and with patients on a regular basis. Open, direct communication is key. The team includes:
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Master's level therapists
- Nurse practitioners
- Registered nurses
- Counselors licensed in addiction counseling and professional
- Clinical counseling
- Social workers
- Occupational therapists
- Recreational therapists
- Chaplains
- Dietitians
- Exercise physiologists
Other professionals may serve on the team as needed. For example, patients in the eating- disorder track benefit from the availability of staff from the Eating Disorders Institute, a cooperative program of MeritCare, The Neuropsychiatric Research Institute and University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Know, too, that because the program takes place at MeritCare Hospital, patients have ready access to whatever medical services they might need over the course of the program.
A customized, intensive approach
Based on a thorough biopsychosocial assessment by the team, each participant begins the program with a customized treatment plan and goals. The plans and goals are reviewed and updated regularly by the team and the individuals. Components of the day-to-day program include:
- Medical management, including daily contact with a psychiatrist
- Group therapy
- Education on more effective patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving
- Practicing new life skills, including relating with others and coping with stress
- Identifying and connecting with health community support systems
- Learning to take good care of self, including diet, exercise, coping and leisure
Family education and involvement
Patients' families can have an important impact on treatment. Family involvement may include a tour and orientation to the program, an educational meeting with a team member or the appropriate referral to family therapy.
Responsibility is a two-way street
The PHP team takes its responsibilities seriously. These include:
- Treating patients with dignity and respect
- Providing ethical, effective treatment
- Providing consistency in care
- Respecting confidentiality
The participants in PHP have responsibilities, too. These include:
- Attending the program as scheduled (and informing the PHP staff when unable to)
- Taking an active part in the program
- Taking prescribed medications; abstaining from alcohol or any non-prescribed medication
- Respecting the rights and confidentiality of others in the program
Preparing for discharge
Two kinds of "plans" pave the way for success after participants complete the program:
- Prior to discharge, each individual, with assistance from the team, develops a risk-management plan. The purpose of the risk-management plan is to control personal risk issues, maintain stability and reduce relapse potential.
- The discharge plan focuses on connecting the individual with the appropriate community resources and continued treatment/counseling if needed.
For more information or to make a referral
If you have questions or would like more information about PHP, please call (701) 461-5500. If you are a healthcare professional and would like to make a referral to PHP, please call (701) 461-5600.