Inpatient Psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Overview
The Founders 11 Inpatient Unit is a 20-bed secure unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) that provides comprehensive psychiatric treatment for adult patients with all major mood and anxiety disorders, neuropsychiatric conditions, and co-morbid addictions or personality disorders. The service specializes in treating patients whose psychiatric illnesses are complicated by active medical problems. The goal of treatment on Founders 11 is to stabilize patients and discharge them to appropriate outpatient care.
Multidisciplinary Treatment Team
A treatment team consisting of psychiatrists, resident physicians, nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists cares for patients on Founders 11. The patients and their families are a critical part of the treatment team, and have maximum input into the treatment plan. Patients meet daily with members of the team (attending psychiatrist, resident psychiatrist, occupational therapist, and/or social worker) to discuss progress and goals of treatment. Shortly after admission, patients are assigned a ‘Primary Nurse’ who spends therapeutic time with the patient each day. The ‘Primary Nurse’ works with the patient throughout the course of treatment, ensuring continuity of care.
Group Program
The group program is designed to provide patients with education and skills that allow them to successfully manage their illness outside of the hospital environment. Some examples of groups are:
- Relaxation Group: The purpose of this group is to learn how to use relaxation techniques as a method for coping with stress. Relaxation techniques are taught and practiced in this group. Patients are encouraged to practice utilizing the techniques on the unit and after discharge.
- Medication Education Group: Topics of discussion in this group include the importance of understanding medications and understanding about relapse. The function of specific medications and managing their side effects are also discussed.
- Coping Skills Group: The purpose of this group is to help patients identify ways to manage stress, cope with anger, and learn how to assertively communicate. Each day a specific topic is presented and discussed.
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