A1 Welcome Book 1/2017

WELCOME BOOK

Westchester Medical Center

~Ch i l d r e n ’ s I n p a t i e n t U n i t , A1~

WestchesterMedicalCenter Telephone:(914)493-7180BehavioralHealthCenterFax:(914)493-1158100WoodsRoadValhalla,NewYork10595

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WELCOME TO A1!WewouldliketotakethisopportunitytoWELCOMEyouandyourchildtoA1,theChildren’sInpatientUnitattheBehavioralHealthCenterofWestchesterMedicalCenter.A1isamultidisciplinarytherapeuticmilieu.Thismeansthatwehavemanydifferenttypesofcliniciansandtreatment

providersthatwillworkwithyouandyourchildduringhisorherstay.Werecognizethisisadifficulttimeforyouandyourchild,andhopethatthisbookletanswersmanyofthequestionsyoumayhaveregardingourprogram.Ourgoalistoprovidethehighestqualityofpatientandfamilycenteredcareforourpatients,allowingthemtoworktowardsreturninghomeandtotheircommunityasquicklyaspossible.

UNIT A1 Ourunitisa15bedunit,comprisedofbothboysandgirls,rangingfrom4to13yearsofage.Thereisadiningroomontheunitwherethechildrenwilleatmealsandsnacksasagroup.Wealsohavealargedayroomwherethechildrenparticipateinmanytherapeuticactivitiestolearncopingskills,includingsocialplay,expressiveandrecreationaltherapygroups,andcommunitymeetings.Wealsohavebooks,toys,journals,cards,materialsforartsandcrafts,andgamestouseduringleisuretime.Duringniceweather,wespendplentyoftimeontheenclosedplaygroundthatisconnectedtotheunit.

Groupsandactivitiesoccuroffunitaswell,wherewehaveaseparatewingequippedwithafullgym,arttherapyroom,musictherapyroom,andgameroom.Yourchildwillbeassesseddailyinordertodetermineifheorsheisabletoattendoff-unitactivities.Inaddition,thechildrenattendschoolfortwohoursperday,withinstructionprovidedbyonsiteNYSlicensedteachers.Classesareheldbothonandoff-unit.

WHAT WE DO: MILIEU THERAPY Whatwillyourchilddoallday?Themilieu(pronounced:mill-you)isthecommunitythatyourchildwillbeapartofwhileontheunit.Itisahighlystructuredtherapeuticsettingthatisunderdirectandcontinuoussupervisionbystaff.

Atthetimeofyourchild’sadmission,heorshewillbeintroducedtothemilieuandgivenatouroftheunit.Yourchildwillalsohavetimetomeethisorherstaffandpeers.Shortlyafteradmission,yourchildwillbeseenbythedoctors,nurses,socialworker,andothermembersoftheTreatmentTeamforanevaluation.Wewillalsospeakwithyouandotherimportantpeopleinyourchild’slife,suchasresidentialstaffmembers,schoolpersonnel,outsidetherapistsandproviders,andcaseworkers.Thisisamulti-stepprocesstohelpustogettoknowyourchildandforhimorhertofeelmorecomfortablewithus.Wewillallworktogethertoidentifyyourchild’streatmentgoalsandtocreateacomprehensivetreatmentplan.Youwillbeaskedtoreviewandsignyourchild’streatmentplan,andthetreatmentplanwillbeamendedasnecessarytoreflectyourchild’sneedsandgoals.

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OUR TREATMENT TEAM

WeareveryproudofourhighlyqualifiedstaffhereattheBehavioralHealthCenter.Wehaveawidearrayofeducatedcliniciansinvolvedinyourchild’scareandourstaffworkdiligentlytogethertoprovidethebesttreatmentavailableforyourchild.UnitChief:GonyWeiss,MD(914.493.1934)Dr.WeissspecializesinChildandAdolescentPsychiatryandisinchargeoftheunit.Shewillassessyourchilddailyanddiscusswithyouthevarioustreatmentmodalitiesthatyourchildwillbenefitfrom.ChildPsychiatryFellowsandResidents:WestchesterMedicalCenterisproudtobeateachinghospitalandassuch,welcomesFellowsandResidentstoourprogramming.ChildFellowsaredoctorswhohavecompletedtheirResidenciesinPsychiatryandhaveelectedtodoatwoyearFellowshiptospecializeinChildandAdolescentPsychiatry.Residentsaredoctorswhohavecompletedmedicalschoolandnowaretrainingtobecomepsychiatrists.AllFellowsandResidentsareunderthedirectsupervisionofDr.Weiss.RegisteredProfessionalNursesandLicensedPracticalNurses:(914.493.7180)StaciisourHeadNurse.SheisinchargeofallofthenursingstaffandPCTsontheunit.Ournursesarehighlyeducatedandmotivated,withtremendousworkexperienceinthefieldofchildpsychiatry.Theywillassessallchildrendaily,dispensemedication,andprovideasafeandtherapeuticenvironmentinwhichyourchildcanthriveandimprove.MentalHealthTherapist:VanessaDePuy(914.493.1817)OurlicensedsocialworkersandmentalhealthcounselorsarecalledMentalHealthTherapistshereatBHC.Vanessaworkscloselywiththefamily,child,andtreatmentteamtoensurethatallaspectsoftreatmentneedsareaddressed.Vanessawillschedulefamilymeetingsassoonaspossibleandprovideindividualandgrouptherapy,aswellasprovideongoingsupporttoyourchild.CaseManager:StephanStern,BA(914.493.5428)Stephanworkscloselywithyou,yourchild,andtheentireTreatmentTeamtoobtaincollateralinformationandcoordinateasafedischargeplan.Thisincludesspeakingwithyou,schoolpersonnel,andoutsideproviderstosecurecontinuedtreatmentandfacilitateyourchild’ssafereturntothecommunity.

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RecreationTherapist:GiovanniMastracchio,MSEd,MPH,CTRSGiovanniisaCertifiedTherapeuticRecreationSpecialist(CTRS)wholeadsdailyRecreationTherapy(RT)groups.ExamplesofRTgroupsinclude,angermanagement,cooperativeskills,andsocialskillsgroup.Allgroupsassistyourchildtoexpresstheirfeelings,workcooperatively,andlearnnewsocialskillswhilebuildingtheirself-esteem.ExpressiveTherapist:JacquelynShoulders,MSJacquieleadsdailyExpressiveandCreativeArtTherapyGroups(ET).ETactivitiesincludearttherapy,journaling,andrelaxationgroups.Jacquiemayalsoworkwithyourchildonanindividualbasistohelpdevelophisorherexpressiveandcreativetalents.Thegoalofthesegroupsistoprovideasafeandalternativemeansofself-expression.PatientCareTechnicians:Inconjunctionwithnursing,PCT’sprovidestructure,reinforceexpectationsofsafeandappropriatebehavior,andhelptomaintainatherapeuticenvironmentwithintheunit.Theyworkcloselywithalldisciplinestoprovidefeedbackoftheirobservations.EachPCTwearsdarkbluescrubs.TheSeniorPCTorShiftLeaderwearslightbluescrubs.Teachers:ThroughourpartnershipwithEducationInc.,weareabletoprovideclassroominstructionaswellasindividualtutoringtothechildrenwecarefor.Ourteacherswillcontactyourchild’sschooltohelpformulateanindividualizededucationplanforyourchildwhileinthehospital.AdministrativeAssistant:SherifaAdeleke(914.493.7180)Sherifaworkscloselywithallstaffmembersandoverseestheunit’sadministrativeresponsibilities,includingmanagingtheunit’smedicalcharts,andcoordinatingadmissionsanddischarges.SpeechandLanguageServices:WehavearelationshipwiththeSpeechandLanguagePathologyDepartmentatNewYorkMedicalCollege’sSchoolofPublicHealth.Ateamofstudentsandtheirsupervisorcomeweeklytocompleteassessmentswithreferredchildrentohelpthemtoimprovetheirsocialskillsandreceptive/expressivelanguageabilities.BHCAdministration:(914) 493-1149DivisionChief,ChildandAdolescentPsychiatry:AbrahamBartell,MD(914) 493-1818 DirectorofNursing:DeniseDavis,RN(914) 493-7775 DirectorofSocialWork:BinaMeyers,LMSW(914) 493-7775 ClinicalSupervisor:MariaBarreto,LCSW-R(914) 493-6473 DirectorofTherapeuticProgramming:MelissaNord,PsyD(914) 493-7129 MentalHygieneLegalServices:(914) 592-4275PatientRelations:(914) 493-8877 MedicalRecords:(914) 493-8803

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Thisisourweeklyschedule.Doctors,socialworkers,nurses,andRT/ETstaffwillmeetwithyouatdifferentpointsthroughoutthedayandweek.Also,thereareoftenotherunitactivitiesthatoccurduringtheweekandweekend.Thesemayinclude:gymtime,artsandcrafts,movies,board/cardgametournaments,andsports.Youwillbeseenbyadoctoreveryday,evenduring theweekend.

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CONFIDENTIALITY Forconfidentialitypurposes,youareNOTpermittedtotakepicturesontheunit(thisincludesbothwithcamerasandwithcellphones).Wealsoaskthatyourespecttheprivacyofothers.Forexample,youmayseesomeoneyouknowfromyourneighborhood-pleasekeepthisinformationtoyourself.

Confidentialityalsohasitslimits.Allstaffmembersworkcollaborativelyandshareinformationtoensurethatwearemeetingallofyourchild’stherapeuticneeds.Additionally,wewilltakethenecessarystepstoprotectyourchildifheorshesharesinformationregardingabuseandpotentialthreat(toselforothers).

UNIT RULES AND SAFETY Inordertoprovidethesafest,mosttherapeuticenvironmentontheunit,wehavesomebasicrulesandexpectationsthatallchildrenareexpectedtofollow.Someruleswillbefamiliartoyou,suchasrespectingtherightsofothers.Wehaverulesagainstfighting,stealing,destructionofpropertyandharmtoselforothers.Somerulesmaybenewforyourchild,suchascurfewandmealtimes.Westronglyencourageparticipationinallasepctsoftreatment.Uponarrivaltotheunit,oneofthenurseswillmeetwithyourchildindependentlytocompleteanIndividualizedCrisisPreventionPlan.Thisplanhelpsustogettoknowyourchildandbepreparedfordifficultsituationsthatmayarise.Forexample,yourchildandthenursewilldiscusstriggersandemotionalwarningsigns,aswellasthevariouswaysthatourstaffcanprovidecareandsupporttoyourchild.TheIndividualizedCrisisPreventPlanwillbeutilizedthroughoutyourchild’shospitalizationandhelpstomaintainthesafetyofyourchildandothersontheunit.Ourtrainedstaffemploysmanytechniquestoassistyourchildinfollowingunitrulesandmaintaininggoodbehavioralcontrol.Someexamplesofthesetechniquesare:verbalde-escalationwhentheyareupset,redirection,distraction,calmingtechniques,positivereinforcementofhealthybehaviors,anduseofour“comfortroom.”Ourcomfortroomisasmallroomwithsoftcomfortobjectsthatyourchildmayutilizetoregaincontrolwhentheyareupset.

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PERSONAL ITEMS Webelievethatallchildrendobetterphysicallyandemotionallywhenabletohavesomeofthecomfortsofhomewiththemwhileinthehospital.Ifyouhavespecificquestions/requestsaboutitemsnotnotedhere,pleasefeelfreetocallthenursingstationat(914)493-7180forfurtherclarification.Note:laundryiscompletedwiththehelpofourPCTstaffmembers.

AllowedNotAllowed

PlayclothesRadios,CDs,DVDsPajamasElectronicdevicesUnderwearandsocksToyguns/weaponsSlippersBeltsSneakersSweatshirts/pantswithstringsFavoritebookortoySharpordangeroustoysStuffedanimalGlassbottlesPictures(notinaframe)PlasticbagsBlanketorpillowGum*Thislistisintendedasaguidelineandthus,isnotcomprehensive.Allitemsbroughttothehospitalfortheeachchildwillbesearchedandassessedforsafetyontheunit.Pleasefeelfreetocalltheunitifyouhaveanyspecificquestionsregardingitemsyouwouldliketobringforyourchild.*Mealsandsnacksareprovided,butintheeventyouwouldliketobringyourchilda“specialtreat,”youofcoursemaydoso.Weaskthatthisbeeatenduringthetimeofyourvisit.Anyuneatenorleftoversnackisexpectedtobetakenhomebyyouafteryourvisit.Thereisnofoodallowedtobestoredaftervisitationontheunit.Ifthereisaparticularcuisineneededbecauseofmedical,religious,orculturalpractices,pleasebringittoourattentionandwewilldoeverythingtoaccommodateyourchild’sneeds.Pleasenotethatweareapeanutandtreenut-freeunit.

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DAILY VISITING HOURS 1:30pm-3:00pm6:30pm-8:00pm

Wehaveafewrulesaboutvisitingthatwewouldliketosharewithyou:• Allvisitorsmustbe21yearsofageorolderinordertovisitontheunit.• Intheeventthatparentswishtobringyoungersiblingstovisit,special

permissioncanbegiventovisitinourplayroomjustoutsidetheunit.Thisdecisionwillbedeterminedforeachindividualcase,basedlargelyonsafetyconcernsandmustbearranged24hourspriortotheplannedvisit.

• 2visitorsperpatientallowedontheunitatanytime.• Duetoourhighlystructuredprogram,weaskthatyoucomeduringour

scheduledvisitinghourssoastonotdisruptyourchild’streatment.Intheeventofextenuatingcircumstances,pleasecontactyourchild’sdoctorinadvancetodiscussthis,andeveryeffortwillbemadetoaccommodateyouandyourchild.

PHONE CALLS Weencourageyourcontactwithyourchildduringhis/heradmission.Pleasekeepinmindthatyourchildwillbebusywiththerapygroupsandprogrammingthroughouttheday.Forthisreason,weaskthatyoulimityourphonecallsto10minutessoastoassistusinkeepingyourchildengagedinallactivitiesand

treatmentgroups.Ifhe/sheisinvolvedinagroupwhenyoucall,staffwillbehappytotakeamessageandyourchildmayreturnyourcallwhentheyarefree.Ifyouhaveanyupsettingnewstosharewithyourchild,pleasecallthenurse’sstationfirstsothatwecanbepreparedtoprovidesupporttoyourchildshouldhe/shebecomeupset.Inaddition,ifyourchildsharessomethingwithyouthatyoufindupsettingorareconcernedabout,pleasecallusimmediatelysothatwemayworktoresolvetheissuetogether.Thenumbertothenurse’sstationis(914)493-7180.

BUDDY BENCH The“BuddyBench”isachairontheunitthatchildrencanchoosetositinwhentheyarefeelinglonelyorareinneedofsomeextrasupport.Sittingonthe“BuddyBench”isaneasywaytosignaltoothersthatyouwouldliketochat,evenifyouhaveahardtimesayingitoraskingforhelp.

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YOU’RE A STAR Yourchildwillbemonitoredandgivenfeedbackdailyontheirparticipationintheirtreatment.WedothisthroughourSTARprogram,whichawardsstarstoeachindividualchildforaccomplishedtasksthroughouttheirday.Someexamplesofhowtocollectthestarsinclude,attendingandparticipatingingroupsandschool,cooperatingwithothers,usinggoodmanners,andmanagingangerappropriately.Thissystemwillallowachildtoseehisorherprogressdaily.Thesestarsareaddedupweeklyandchildrenwillberewardedfortheirsuccesses!Therewardsinclude:beingabletoattendour“LevelA”PizzaPartyonFridaysandusingtheiraccumulatedpointsfromtheweekendtogo“shopping”onMondaysinourunittoystore.YourchildcanalsobecomeaBUDDY!Apeerbuddyissomeonewhoisselectedtohelpyournewestpeergettoknowtheunit,staff,peersandrules.

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ContactNumbers

Wehopethatourhandbookhasbeenhelpfulandansweredmanyofyourquestions.Wearecommittedtoprovidingyouandyourchildwiththebestpossiblepatientandfamilycenteredcareavailable.Pleasedonothesitatetocontactusatanytimewithanyquestionsorconcerns.

UNITA1GonyWeiss,MD (914)493-1934UnitChief,A1 VanessaDePuy,LMHC (914)493-1817MentalHealthTherapist,UnitA1 StephanStern,BA (914)493-5428CaseManager,UnitA1 NursingStation,UnitA1 (914)493-7180SherifaAdeleke (914)493-7180AdministrativeAssistant,UnitA1

ADMINISTRATIONAbrahamBartell,MD (914)493-1818Chief,ChildandAdolescentDivision DeniseDavis,RN (914)493-7775DirectorofNursing BambinaMeyers,LMSW (914)493-7381DirectorofSocialWork MariaBarreto,LCSW-R (914)493-6473ClinicalSupervisor,Child&AdolescentUnits MelissaNord,PsyD (914)493-7129DirectorofTherapeuticProgramming,BHC

StevenDickstein,MDProgramDirector,Child/AdolescentPsychiatryFellowship

(914)493-7343

BHCAdministration (914)493-1149MentalHygieneLegalServices (914)592-4275PatientRelations (914)493-8877MedicalRecords (914)493-8803