Inpatient psychiatry and long distace calls

by **Copy_Cat** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:51 am

My last run in with inpatient psychiatry I couldn't call home when I wanted because it was a "long distance" call in another area code.

Who the hell says that antiquated term "long distance" anymore ?

Universal Health reported a profit of $151.8 million, or $1.53 a share, up from $107.6 million, or $1.10 a share, a year earlier. Excluding items such as a gain tied to the reduction of liability self-insurance reserves, as well as electronic health record-related impacts, adjusted profit rose to $1.20 a share from $1.12.

Revenue jumped 6.5% to $1.83 billion. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/univer ... 2013-07-25

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) is a Fortune 500 company based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. UHS company is one of the largest hospital management companies in the nation, operating behavioral health facilities...

The place I was in was dirty and abusive and for $1000 a day they couldn't even provide "long distance" phone services.

This site is dedicated to all the people who were harmed or killed in UHS facilities. They speak for those who have no voice, to protect others from experiencing the pain they endured.
http://watchinguhs.wordpress.com/about/

"long distance" calls, what a joke, the instant I press submit this post is readable anywhere in the world.

When I was inpatient on the Psych Ward in 1992 and again in 1994, there was one payphone in the hallway for the use of all the patients on the ward. We could use the payphone to call anywhere, so long as we each paid for our own calls, and were considerate of other patients by not hogging too much time on the phone.

by **Riccola** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:23 pm

The rules imposed on patients are asinine. I remember during arts and crafts time they had a strict limit to 4 sheets of plain jane computer paper per person while in the office they would print hundreds of pages a day on health records. They would print something out just to read it then shred it then print it again because they missed something. Management would always be bring chest high stacks of computer paper on dollies, its safe to say who was really wasting paper. Couldn't make any phone calls without a psychiatrists approval. As always they never directly said 'no'. Rather spending all day making up excuses to give false hope when it was decided in the fist place they couldn't "oh I dont know, I first have to confirm with X" "Id really want you to, but Im busy" "I made a promise but all good promises take time" "I know hang there, we really want to let you talk, but I have an emergency to handle" (his emergency was having to eat a bag of potato chips) I know that was not the case not only because it was obvious but I would overhear them training new staff to ''never directly say no'' rather find ways to "calm" the patient with 'sensory' words since they "cant handle anything directly". It never calmed any one, eventually it became apparent and people would act out. Asking for basic anything while being spoken back to like a child will irate anyone, but hey, more instability more cash flow.

We couldn't hug patients either even if they wanted to. A few staff would allow it since it did help considerably when those wanted it, but most staff scolded patents who did regardless. We had to stand back when someone was balling their eyes out while staff verbally harassed them. Staff rewarded heartless behavior. I don't believe any forum of Empathy was welcome.

by **Copy_Cat** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:11 pm

Riccola wrote:The rules imposed on patients are asinine.

Telephone*
The right to "reasonable access" to a telephone to make and receive confidential calls unless making the call would be a criminal act or cause an unreasonable infringement of another's access to the telephone.
*Note: The rights to have visitors or use the phone may be suspended only if there is a substantial risk of serious harm to you or others and less restrictive alternatives would be futile. Any suspension must be documented in your record and may last no longer than the time necessary to prevent the harm.
http://www.m-power.org/basic_rights_at_inpatient_mental_health_facilities

It's all just words they ignore.

It's like they totally lack insight and can't see ahead to the day when people get out and are in town again on even ground with them. I remember looking out the hospital window at the employee parking lot thinking how could I get in there key up all their car paint jobs real quick and get away.

Am I the bad person for thinking that, WTF did I do to be treated like a subhuman by them ?

I decided public humiliation would be a more effective payback, posting online what goes on inside that hospital so when families finally do get those phone calls complaining of the abuses 'patients' have credibility.

Oh well, our efforts are slowly but surely informing more and more of the public what an abusive and unscientific crock of $#%^ psychiatry really is.

-- Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:21 pm --

"Long distance" calls, WTF who still says that ? is this the year 1975 ? I still can't believe it.

by **Riccola** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:27 pm

Copy_Cat wrote:
Riccola wrote:The rules imposed on patients are asinine.

Telephone*
The right to "reasonable access" to a telephone to make and receive confidential calls unless making the call would be a criminal act or cause an unreasonable infringement of another's access to the telephone.
*Note: The rights to have visitors or use the phone may be suspended only if there is a substantial risk of serious harm to you or others and less restrictive alternatives would be futile. Any suspension must be documented in your record and may last no longer than the time necessary to prevent the harm.
http://www.m-power.org/basic_rights_at_inpatient_mental_health_facilities

It's all just words they ignore.

Words mean nothing to them, all patients are in a position where they cant be trusted according to them. Easier for them.

It's like they totally lack insight and can't see ahead to the day when people get out and are in town again on even ground with them. I remember looking out the hospital window at the employee parking lot thinking how could I get in there key up all their car paint jobs real quick and get away.

Am I the bad person for thinking that, WTF did I do to be treated like a subhuman by them ?

Your not a bad person, dont let them make you think like that.

I decided public humiliation would be a more effective payback, posting online what goes on inside that hospital so when families finally do get those phone calls complaining of the abuses 'patients' have credibility.

Oh well, our efforts are slowly but surely informing more and more of the public what an abusive and unscientific crock of $#%^ psychiatry really is.

Going public you are saving lives. I know your saving mine. Im healing from it all and it helps a great deal. Your helping to imptove the human rights of those who cant or don't have a voice.

-- Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:21 pm --

"Long distance" calls, WTF who still says that ? is this the year 1975 ? I still can't believe it.

:lol:

They use words that make any person blink. Who cares, they are clueless.

by **Tyler** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:19 pm

When I was in the hospital, I was allowed to call anywhere I wanted. I said "I have a friend in Australia I'd like to call," jokingly, and they said "give us the number and we'll dial it for you."

I swear, I must have been to the greatest mental health unit in the world.

by **Riccola** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:32 am

Tyler77 wrote:When I was in the hospital, I was allowed to call anywhere I wanted. I said "I have a friend in Australia I'd like to call," jokingly, and they said "give us the number and we'll dial it for you."

I swear, I must have been to the greatest mental health unit in the world.

You lucked out, and I think many envy you for that.

by **Cheze2** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 11:59 am

I remember needing a calling card to call my family as they were considered long distance when I was inpatient many years ago (10+). I don't believe this was the same just a few years ago when I was inpatient, but I can't remember fully.

Riccola wrote:We couldn't hug patients either even if they wanted to.

I remember when I was a teenager this was also the case. We would give "bubble hugs" basically just hugging the air around someone so we didn't actually touch them. It's still the case, though as an adult people just find "bubble hugs" stupid and don't do them. While I can understand the reasons, (people with trauma issues especially might find this very upsetting/triggering) It would be nice if they allowed some exceptions from time to time as touch can be a great healer.

Inpatient psychiatry and long distace calls

Inpatient psychiatry and long distace calls

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