Outpatient Policies

• Smoking

  The designated smoking area for outpatients is the enclosed patio, which is visible from the front lobby

• Accident/Illness

  Basic first aid will be provided by the BHC nursing staff. In the case of a medical emergency, an ambulance will be called to transport to the nearest emergency room (related expenses are the patient’s responsibility). If you become ill while attending the program, staff will assess your condition and, if needed, may send you home. If you become ill at home and are unable to attend the program, it is your responsibility to contact the staff and let them know. If a true medical emergency occurs, then you will transfer to a local hospital emergency room via medical transport.

• Attendance

  It is your responsibility to arrive each day on time at the beginning of the program day and stay through until the end of scheduled programming. If you need to be absent, it is your responsibility to notify the program staff as soon as possible. We call all patients who are absent if they have not called us first. We must document daily in the medical record if you are absent and why. If we are unable to reach you, we will then call the person you left as your emergency contact person. If we are still unable to reach anyone, a decision will be made by the treatment team to possibly have a police wellness check at your home to ensure your safety.

  If you are absent for more than three (3) program days AND you have not notified us, the Treatment Team will decide the disposition of your case to include discharge. If you need to leave prior to the end of the program day, you shall report to the program staff prior to departure and, if at all possible, return to finish the treatment day.

• Medications

  No medications are dispensed from the outpatient area. You are to bring your prescribed medications that you need to take while in attendance. Any medication brought to the program must be registered by the program staff in your medical record AND be brought in the original, pharmacy-label prescription bottles. The only exception to appropriately labeled medicine containers is when you have been set up with a medicine-reminder dispenser. You are to register ALL prescribed medications and any over-the-counter medications you are taking (this includes medicines for medical conditions that may be prescribed by another physician) with the program staff and if any medication changes occur during your treatment stay, these must also be registered.

• Telephone Use

  There is a telephone in the main lobby area for patient use. Cell phones are to be stored either in your car or in an assigned locker. You may check your messages or make calls during break times. Cameras and recording devices are prohibited for patient or family use by federal regulation.

• Confidentiality

  To protect every patient’s right to privacy, the staff will not discuss any patient’s treatment or progress with anyone not having the patient’s prior written authorization. Each patient should feel confident that whatever he or she says while in treatment remains confidential. We ask that each patient share in this commitment to confidentiality by not revealing to anyone outside of the hospital any information about his or her peers.

Outpatient Rules of Conduct

When you are a patient of our facility, you will be expected to follow the established rules and responsibilities described in this handbook. These standards were developed to promote a safe and therapeutic environment for you and your peers. Patients are to treat each other and staff with dignity and respect.

• Alcohol, Drugs, and Illicit Medications

  The use of alcohol, drugs or unauthorized medications is strictly prohibited. All medications brought to the outpatient program must be currently prescribed by a physician and registered in your medical record. No alcoholic beverages, or illicit or non-prescribed, mind-altering substances shall be brought to the facility or in the patient’s possession while at the facility. Patients are not to come to the facility under the influence of these substances. If it is suspected that a patient is under the influence of a non-prescribed mind-altering substance of any kind, the staff will require the suspected patient to provide a specimen (either blood or urine, depending on circumstance) for lab testing IMMEDIATELY (any such specimen requires a staff witness for verification). Violations of this policy or failure to provide a requested specimen WILL result in immediate discharge from the program. The mixing of alcohol and illicit drugs with prescription medication can be dangerous, even life threatening. They will interfere with the effectiveness of the medication and often make your symptoms worse.

• Sexual Behavior

  Sexual activity or any intimate physical contacts between patients or guests on the premises are not allowed. Intimate relationships, along with social relationships, with other patients are strongly discouraged for a one-year, post-discharge period. Any social contact with another program patient that occurs outside the facility shall be reported to your counselor immediately. This type of socializing outside of the program may result in discharge.

• Gambling/Loans/Gifts

  Gambling, loans (money, cigarettes, clothing, etc.) and gifts (to patients or staff) of any kind are strictly prohibited.

• Aggressive/Destructive Behavior

  Willful acts of aggression toward staff, other patients, or property cannot be condoned, and appropriate action to stop or curtail such behavior will be taken, including discharge from the program and/or pursuit of criminal charges.

• Safety

  After items are secured in an assigned locker, a metal detector wand will be used on all patients. Once the locker is locked, the patient can only have access to their locker with a staff member in attendance. The staff will observe any medication the patient takes while they are here at the Behavioral Health Center.

  Please be sure to leave any sharp or potentially dangerous objects at home. This would include pocket knives, scissors, metal nail files, etc. No weapons are allowed, this includes guns, pepper/mace sprays, etc. If such objects are detected, they will be immediately confiscated by the BHC staff and secured or disposed of properly, which may include utilization of the local police. There is zero tolerance for violence communicated to patients, staff and non-patients.

• Dress Code

  Dress may be casual, comfortable and reasonably modest. Clothes shall fit properly, and meet the following criteria:

  • Shirts shall not be transparent or worn open (unbuttoned)
  • Short or tight-fitting clothing will not be worn
  • Females shall wear a brassiere at all times
  • Proper footwear shall be worn at all times
  • Overalls shall be worn with some type of undershirt
  • Sunglasses or hats/caps shall not be worn inside the building
  • Clothing may not contain pictures, words, or any other reference to drug, alcohol, sex, demonology or witchcraft.
  • Shorts shall be worn only in hot weather and should be mid-thigh in length or longer.
  • No halter-tops, low-neck blouses or shirts, bare midriff or tank tops for men or women.