Partial Hospitalization Drug Treatment, is an intermediate step in the continuum of care focused on increasing independence, while the client is still engaged in clinical substance abuse treatment. PHP affords the client the opportunity to begin adjusting to life outside of treatment while maintaining a strong treatment foundation. After completing a day of treatment, individuals can return home for the evening.
Partial Hospitalization minimizes disruption to the client’s daily routines, allows for uninterrupted support of family and friends, and facilitates learning by encouraging immediate practice of newly acquired coping skills. Being new to living life without chemicals, many clients find this level of care to be incredibly helpful in learning how to cope with life-issues without resorting to drugs or alcohol.
At the PHP level of treatment, clients can begin working or attending classes at one of the many colleges and universities in the area during the day, while attending counseling groups in the evening focused on Relapse Prevention and Life-Skills Development. Although a lower level of care than residential treatment, partial hospitalization is still a very well-structured level of substance abuse treatment.
We use regular drug and alcohol testing to ensure that clients have remained abstinent throughout treatment, and a strong tie to clinical services ensures that clients stay on target with their treatment objectives. Clients participate in evening groups that are a continuation of the groups they received in residential treatment, but have a stronger focus on the necessary skills needed to live a lifetime of sobriety while actively participating in everyday society.
Clients are given an introduction to the 12 steps of recovery, and are taught relapse prevention tools that can be used to resist the craving to use drugs and alcohol. Additional holistic therapies like yoga, meditation, tai chi, and various spirituality groups, help the client to become emotionally balanced. The PHP level of care has the necessary structure, support, and supervision to ensure that each client safely transitions into living life in a productive way without drugs or alcohol.
Two of the most common types of programs utilized in the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction are Residential programs and Outpatient programs. Residential programs generally include complete restriction to property and strict 24-hour supervision. Outpatient care ranges anywhere from 1 hour to 9 hours of counseling per week. The PHP level of care falls inbetween the aforementioned programs in that it allows an individual to receive intensive treatment during the day while practicing recovery skills in a supportive and structured environment in the evening.
The National Association of Private Psychiatric Hospitals (NAPPH) recently joined with the American Association for Partial Hospitalization (AAPH) to provide mental health professionals with a clear, industry-supported definition of psychiatric partial hospitalization, an option on the continuum of care used by clinicians to treat mental illnesses. As defined by Congress, partial hospitalization means an outpatient program specifically designed for the diagnosis or active treatment of a drug or alcohol addiction when there is a reasonable expectation for improvement or when it is necessary to maintain a patient’s functional level and prevent relapse or full hospitalization.
That definition and the service components are endorsed by NAPPH and AAPH, and they offer a model for other insurers or employers considering the addition of this highly specialized program to healthcare benefit plans. Partial hospitalization is not a substitute for inpatient care. For some patients, the availability of partial hospitalization may shorten the length of stay of full hospitalization or serve as a transition from inpatient to outpatient care. Placement in a partial hospital program is a clinical decision that can be made only by a physician thoroughly knowledgeable about the patient’s illness, history, environment, and support system.
These guidelines are an adaptation of the guidelines recommended by the American Association for Partial Hospitalization and supported by it’s members.
- What is Partial Hospitalization? Partial Hospitalization is defined as “a time-limited, active treatment program that offers therapeutically intensive, coordinated, and structured clinical services within a stable therapeutic environment. This modality, or method of treatment, is an alternative to hospitalization and offers the flexibility to deal with a very wide range of conditions.
- How does Partial Hospitalization compare with other options? Where does it fit into the continuum? Partial Hospitalization fits into the continuum of drug and alcohol addiction treatment as the option that combines the best facets of inpatient care (strict criteria and intensive care) with the best of outpatient care (schedule flexibility and lower costs). Patients who represent no imminent danger to themselves of others may receive the intensive clinical treatments that their conditions require–without the expense of hospitalization. Treatment may be arranged for day, evening, night or weekends, within the framework of the recommended minimum number of hours per week, so that patients may interact with family, friends, and community and, often, resume work.
- Who might benefit from Partial Hospitalization? Individuals who benefit from Partial Hospitalization include those experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms, those who otherwise might be hospitalized without the on-going support of a Partial Hospitalization program, or those unable to function autonomously on a day-to-day basis. Treatment may be directed toward relapse prevention, group therapy workshops, or basic lifeskills coaching to help the client integrate themselves back into normal functioning society.
- What constitutes a Partial Hospitalization program? Partial Hospitalization programs may be offered in many different settings, from free-standing, community-based programs to larger psychiatric or medical systems (such as within traditional hospitals). To be a Partial Hospitalization program, the treatment must have a specified structure; be offered within a specific and limited timeframe; have clear guidelines for admission, evaluation, program and discharge; provide clinically appropriate treatment; and utilize professional staff.
- How were these guidelines developed? Both sets of these standard and guidelines represent collaborative efforts. Highly qualified, experienced professionals representing a diverse group of specialization’s and experience contributed freely and actively in the creation of these materials. The results are criteria that approach Partial Hospitalization care from an unbiased, independent and realistic viewpoint.
- How can these guidelines help my business? Partial Hospitalization benefits an organization in two major ways. First, Partial Hospitalization is an avenue of providing clinically equivalent mental healthcare at a much lower cost than inpatient treatment. The direct savings over inpatient benefits usually are 40 to 60 percent — and more than 60 percent in some instances? Second, there are indirect savings because an employee involved in Partial Hospitalization drug treatment may be able to work on at least a limited basis, thus maintaining productivity. As an indirect, long-term savings, there is evidence that those who successfully complete partial Hospitalization treatment generally will require future treatment on a less-frequent basis.
The cost of treatment is less expensive than most residential treatment programs, partial hospitalization is affordable to many and may even be covered by a health insurance plan. Individuals are urged to check with their insurance carrier before selecting a program. In partial hospitalization, the patient continues to reside at a sober residential community, but commutes or is transported to a treatment center up to seven days a week.
Since partial hospitalization focuses on overall treatment of the individual, rather than purely safety, the program is not used for acutely suicidal people. Treatment during a typical day may include group therapy, individual therapy, as well coaching on basic life skills. The schedule of each individual’s specific treatment plan will be determined after an extensive clinical assessment done during the admission of the client.
Partial hospitalization programs require individuals to attend regular counseling and education sessions, many of which can run up 7 or 8 hours per day. The treatment focuses on subject matter such as transition into a drug-free life, regaining responsibility, and the formation of new habits. During partial hospitalization, the individual can expect to take part in both individual and group drug counseling.
Partial hospitalization treats those suffering from addiction to alcohol or drugs such as heroin, crystal meth, cocaine, marijuana, painkillers or other prescription medications. These treatment programs are for anyone who come to grips with the fact that they have a problem, which if not corrected, will have permanent, negative effects on their life. Partial hospitalization programs are not generally divided into men’s or women’s programs, however there are specialized facilities that deal exclusively with adolescent drug programs, or Drug Diagnosis patients (those who have co-occurring mental illness and addiction).
Helping the individual engage in a serious drug rehab program, while still staying close to home and family, is the goal of every partial hospitalization program. Partial hospitalization is suited to handle more serious levels of drug addiction, as the counseling programs take more of the day and meet more often. Partial hospitalization shares many of the same features as outpatient drug rehab.
One of the prime advantages of residential drug treatment is that it takes the individual out of this environment, and into a more remote location where it is easier to focus on the primary goal of beating the addiction. Still, if the individual prefers to sleep at home, can handle the distractions, or is simply unable to afford residential care, partial hospitalization is a solid option. Another option is to seek Partial Hospitalization Drug Treatment with day/night residential housing, which takes the pros of both types of treatment and puts them together into one solid treatment plan.
