https://www.towerbehavioralhealth.com/programs/eating-disorder/
Tower Behavioral Health’s Resiliency Eating Disorders Program is an inpatient eating disorder treatment unit located in Reading, Pennsylvania. It treats adolescents and adults of all genders ages 14 and older. The average length of stay on the eating disorder unit is three weeks.
Tower Behavioral Health accepts both Medicaid and Medicare. The Resiliency eating disorder unit was previously located at Brandywine Hospital.
Any information, updates or reviews? Please post in comments below! You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
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So I got discharged from tower on may 9,2025. I was mostly happy with the treatment.see dr. P daily! Dietician Monday thru Friday who is amazing, M*****! Meals 3 times daily and two snacks. There is a good amount of groups throughout day until 4 then all downtime! Leave room at 8am and can’t go back till 9 or 10. Therapists there I thought were great. I had S** and she was probably the best I ever had. I am 55 and was oldest at time but they had had older prior. You will have a roommate, and rooms have a shower so I loved that. You don’t have to wait forever for meds. They are right on that. No level system. They do take you outside for groups and other times. Staff was great! Length of stay varies. Some 3 months and some 1 month. Meal plan starts out depending on individual with 2 carbs, 2 fats, 1 protein and a juice and milk every meal. Lunch and dinner have 3 protein and a veg. They say do the best you can. They will offer ensure for completion. If not eating at all they will tube feed no matter what weight you’re at. Food I thought was good. A good variety. Breakfast was my favorite. Eggs, toast, waffles,sausage, vbacon, hash browns cereal….you eat in cafe like buffet but they set trays up and then you sit.. coffee if you complete. They do support vegetarian. Visiting is on Friday and Sunday. But keep In mind.. this is a psychiatric hospital! No strings. No a lot of things. I had to fight to get my own comb. 5 pairs of clothes and they stick to that. They wash your clothes which was nice. And there is about 11 to 13 pts.
Thanks so much for this review!! I know it’ll be really helpful for a lot of people as there aren’t many reviews of this program!! Would you be able to answer all the questions on the full template? It’s totally okay if you aren’t able to because I know it’s long and a lot. Thanks!
Also, is this a good program to go to for Bulimia for someone who’s in a larger body? Or is it only geared towards thin people with restrictive ED’s? Would an overweight person feel comfortable here? Or is there a lot of fatphobia towards larger patients? Also, how are they with ARFID?
How are they at helping people with SH/SI? Are they good with PTSD, flashbacks, etc? Will they talk to you, help you calm down and work through it, or are they quick to restrain or give sedating injections? Do they have a quiet room patients can go to if feeling unsafe? How are they with medical issues? Are they wheelchair accessible?
Sorry that was so many questions, I hope I didn’t overwhelm you, it’s okay if you don’t know the answers to everything I asked. I appreciate any answers you have, but I know some of my questions are very specific to my individual situation, so it’s totally okay if you don’t know the answers to all of my questions! And no pressure to answer everything i asked! I know i asked a lot of questions and I don’t want to overwhelm you! Just anything you are able to answer, I appreciate it, Thanks! And I think it would be really helpful for a lot of people if you’re able to answer all the questions on the full template, but it’s totally okay if you’re not able to! I know it’s a lot. Thanks so much!!
Also, are they HAES? Or will overweight patients with Bulimia be told they need to lose weight? I find being pushed to lose weight in treatment harmful and counterproductive to my recovery. It’s totally okay if you don’t know the answer!
I would say absolutely not. Their goal is to push healthy eating habits. They had patients that weren’t underweight or even normal weight on same meal plan as the patients on weight gain. They even tubed if you weren’t eating no matter your weight was.
Thanks so much!!
They’re is a quiet room for patients and headphones for music.I am bulimic and anorexic and it has all. The program treats everything. They push meeting needs of everyone and set rules in group to not trigger people. They’re were sh/si people also and they made sure it was safe. I’m sure they can help with PSTD also. I felt it was individualized. The therapists are all very good! It is wheelchair accessible and I had some medical problems that I felt were addressed. They will send you to hospital if need be. One thing I didn’t like is you leave your room at 8 and don’t return other than bathroom break till 9:30 or after snack. So if I missed something let me know. A lot depends on the group there at the time. That can make it or break it for me. But I let my therapist know and it got better! The dietician is great. M*****. Yo-yo have group and menus with her Monday thru Friday and she’s great about meeting with you those days. She’s very knowledgeable about eating disorders and I trusted her!
Thanks so much for answering all my questions!!! I really appreciate it!
CONTEXT
I was in this inpatient facility, early February. Everything is on one floor, making it wheelchair accessible. This program is actually a type of unit part of a psych ward so the rules are on the strict side to, in my opinion, an absurd degree. 10-12 patients was the average and all genders were welcome. Teen and adults mixed together—like all ages were welcome as long as you were at least 14 years old. But since I am an young adult, I will be reviewing this from my experience as an adult.
Signed multiple notice of leaves and rescinded: once when I realized I did it out of anger after a confrontation with someone triggering others with their behaviors and once when I was persuaded by my therapist (to clarify, so that I don’t defame, she didn’t say it directly. It was just my interpretation of her words which were “try to figure out why you’re angry without distractions.” I took that to mean maybe it wasn’t the environment.) My final notice, I was offered to rescind to gave them time to prepare aftercare, when I made clear my intention to leave. So that’s why I’m so biased here.
TREATMENT TEAM
We saw the doctor every day and I think he’s a nice guy, albiet quiet. They say you see a therapist 3 twice a week, but I’ve only met with her thrice in the two weeks I’ve been there, because all of the therapists work for the whole hospital/psyhc ward so they are stretched thin. The dietatians work for the whole hospital so they aren’t verses in out meal plans or able to identify when someone is exhibiting ED behaviors during menu planning groups that run three times a week. They’re only one or two nurses on the unit, everyone else is an BHA (behavioral health asscoites) who enforce rules, escorts you to meals, peridoally check on you if their systems indicate that your ankle bracelet isn’t working, and be a emotional support.
GROUPS
Those groups count as the dietary group on the schedule. because they were supposed to happen every day I was under the impression that there would be nutrition education, but there’s not it’s all just menu planning according to your own meal plan. And, because there was no nutrition education, I had no evidence against my ED when it wanted to rein its head during snacks and meals.
There is only one therapy group. Despite the packet, the skills group and process group is merged together into “skills/process group.” I dissociated a lot during my stay (because I wasn’t seeing a therapist to deal with the emotions my ED was numbing), so I remember very little. DBT, cognitive distortions, and CBT stood out to me. as familiar concepts. The groups were always more general, rarely eating disorder specific, so the patients who were least further along in their recovery struggled to find the connection.
As for activity groups, when I was there, it was just arts and crafts (and stickers before they were contraband due to other units sticking them on walls) for days straight. The website is outdated, staff who run those groups, they worked for the whole hospital so they only came sparsely and count as an activity group. Music thearpy only happened once for me (that was fun) and my favorite. I have’t had anything art or pet thearpy.
The BHA/nursing groups didn’t happen, and the one time it did we were just given mental health infographics. The community meetings weren’t happening either. The only group they ran was the wrap up group at the last snack of the day and even that seems more like a peer asking a would-you-rather question from a packet passed down from patient to patient
MEALSTIMES
Because most BHAs weren’t versed in eating disorders, you feel really unsupported during meals and snacks. This is where I disassociated the most so this section isn’t going to be detailed.
The meals were in the cafeteria. Tower tells the truth about the meals, so I will just add. You are allowed to bring a fidget, photo, or a small paper with encouragement. Your condiments picked and refrigerated stuff is preset for you on your tray and all you have to do is wait in line for your food. You get 45 minutes to eat and can ask for more condiments.
Snacks were three times a day, there wasn’t an exact time. It seems to be range bracket. You were merely offered a choice of grain and a juice. The menu for that was too limited. We cycled between the same seven options every time.
FOOD
Your meals are picked for you upon first arriving until you can join menu planning group. On the menu are the kitchen’s picks: two entrees of grain, protein, and/or lipid. If you’re missing lipid, you’re supposed to pick from spreads and butters. Don’t like either options, you’re stuck with a sandwich (PB and Jam, Grilled cheese, or a regular sandwich).
If you completed at least 95% of your meal, you don’t need a supplement. My eating disorder loved that very much. How much supplement you have to drink depends on how much of your meals you didn’t complete. Because of the lack of support, most people didn’t complete I remember a line of supplements on the nursing stations’ glass frame after each meal. If you constantly don’t complete, you do get put on a feeding tube. You can eat vegetarian, vegan, and accommodated for religious diets, but your options are really limited.
There is no privilege system or level. It’s mostly just punishment: there’s linen restriction if you hide food, napkin restriction for the whole unit someone wipes oil/juice off something. And the standard one-to-one.
DOWNTIME
Since most of the activities happened in the morning and none of the afternoon groups actually happened, after skills/process group, you had all that free time to do puzzles, read, socialize, play tabletop/board games, or color with awful markers.
Because of the remote location of Tower, the TV doesn’t work until evening due to the Wi-Fi getting overwhelmed from other units using their TVs. They also take people who self harm and have a trauma history, so nothing above the rating of PG-13 can play on the TV and Youtube for only for therapist use.
Exercise was only allowed in certain groups (yoga) supervised. This policy was so strict that it feels like if you’re so much as kneel or stretch, you will be told to stop. this rule wasn’t enforced consistently. Cause of this all you were allowed to do is sit and it did a number on my back and posture.
This is the rule that made me leave early for real. The music listening, you’re given heaphones and are only allowed to pick a playlist or an album on an iPad (unless you wanted to play specific song and hope a BHA/nurse is there where you want to change it to the next song). There’s BHAs that leave the tablet on the glass for you to browse or that give it you but will take it back when you’re done. But since taking too long (standing there) count as exercise to some BHA/nurses and management caught wind, the day I was leaving, they’ve promised to be stricter with the no picking songs rule.
WEEKENDS
The schedule was the same on the weekends. The only difference is that you’ll have a substitute doctor and that dietitians and therapists aren’t working on weekends. The weekends, in my experience, was also where the peer conflicts showed when I first arrived. When discharges happened and a different group of people came, things were clear much calmer. I must say.
VISITATIONS AND ELECTRONICS
Electronics weren’t allowed at all. For most places I’ve heard too, so that’s not why I had a problem with. Visits are on Fridays and Sundays for 15 minutes. I live long distance so none of my family could visit, but from what I heard it’s very sterile. You’re not even allowed to physically touch each other. only two visitors can come. They can’t be kids they have to be 14 and up. Phone calls are only 15 minutes on an old phone planted on the wall like a jail’s phone.
OUTINGS
Since I went in the winter, I don’t know about their outing policy since we were told they don’t do it because it’s cold. There is a gymnasium, but I never thought to ask why we weren’t allowed to go.
HOUSING
The set up is really like a prison like in the bedrooms. The beds are a blue foam with blankets and one pillow, yet you can ask for a comforter. Thick glass are screwed to the wall. The showers are small. I often find that water gets on me before I can put soap on. This may change soon but there are the bedrooms, the hallway, and the group room. The others rooms are locked for supervised use only. So, if you’re crying and you need a moment (it will happen you will cry at least once here), you just have to sit out in the hallway and hope no one else is there.
AFTERCARE
One of Tower’s case managers do set you up with aftercare of your choice if you discharge. If you leave against medical advice, they don’t set up at all.
At least, I now have less distraction type coping skills due to the environment. Also due to the environment, my depression got worse because it’s so isolating and lonely. You know nothing about the outside world when you’re there. The average length of day is three weeks, but can go onto a month. I stayed for two weeks.
If any questions let me know. If you want to get well, it’s a good place if you want a spa I wouldn’t go there. Dr. P cares a lot about his patients and I would go back. He’s a great dr.
As far as AFRID, I think they work with you but if you can’t eat they will tube you! Like most places, you’re expected to eat but I feel that in therapy they will help! And I believe there was a pt with that there.
If anyone needs a recent review I just got discharged may 9, 2025
This would be very helpful. I am considering going to tower for treatment. Can you give a general review of your stay? Thanks
Would love a full review if you’re up to it
yes, please!
I don’t currently need treatment but since this is one of the few places that takes my insurance I’d be interested in a full review just in case I wind up needing treatment again at some point (though I’ve been doing so well I’m actually hopeful I’ll never need it again this time!)
I would love a review!
*TW*
I have a PEG mic- key button for severe Gastroparesis, as well as CPTSD and Anorexia nervosa, would they accept me with my tube and help me work on meeting tube goals and snack goals? Currently XX%+ tube fed but willing to try for more oral intake with a gentle approach
you’re going to have to ask the programs
Resiliency does actually have a representative who is answering questions on this page. Rare exception! It’s because we weren’t getting any feedback or reviews or any posts at all from anyone who had been here, and it was becoming a real obstacle/deterrent in treatment choice/access (especially because it is one of the only places that takes Medicare!). I remembered that back in the day Faith (site founder, for those who don’t know) used to do an “Ask the Treatment Center,” so Stacie (below) from Tower has a short term exception to the no posts from treatment centers rule. 🙂
Never been to see an ED therapist and went today, she said I have to go Inpatient to get medically stabilized, and Tower said they would take me, what’s the intake process like in general ? Also if you or anyone can share any experiences/information I would appreciate it, I’ve never been to treatment before and I’m terrified
Thank you
Here’s an email if that’s easier
ccgp05@aol.com
Please call admissions for any questions. 484-659-2330, https://www.towerbehavioralhealth.com/programs/eating-disorder/
MORE INFORMATION ON CARE AT TOWER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH’S RESISLIENCY EATING DISORDER INPATIENT PROGRAM
INPATIENT
YES
13
ALL
YES
DAILY.
THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES ARE IMPLEMENTED BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. TYPICAL APPROACHES INCLUDE CBT, DBT, MINDFULNESS, MOTIVATINOAL INTERVIEWING, TRAUMA THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY, GROUP THERAPY, AND EXPOSURE THERAPY
Describe the average day:
PATIENTS ATTEND MEALS THREE TIMES A DAY AND SNACK TIME TWICE PER DAY. MEALS ARE MONITORED BY STAFF MEMBERS FOR COMPLETION RATES
VARIETY MENU CHANGES DAILY
YES
NO
PROCESS GROUPS, SKILLS GROUPS, ACTIVITIES GROUP, ART THERAPY, MUSIC THERAPY
THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON A TRAUMA INFORMED MODEL
THE PROGRAM OPERATES ON A 7 DAY SCHEDULE WITH GROUPS PROVIDED EVERY DAY
YES
DEPENDS ON PROGRESS, 3-6 WEEKS IS AVERAGE
2, 45 MINUTE VISITATION TIMES/WEEK, PHONE CALLS THROUGHOUT THE DAY
NO ACCESS
1 HOUR PER DAY, MONDAY – FRIDAY THROUGH THE BERKS COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT EDUCATOR ON SITE
NO
CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH PATIENT, FAMILY, AND TEAM TO SSCHEULE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF AFTERCARE
Do you have an individual therapist and if so how often do you see them?
Yes, Individual therapy is scheduled 3 times per week.
Never been to see an ED therapist and went today, she said I have to go Inpatient to get medically stabilized, and Tower said theyvery likely would take me, what’s the intake process like in general ? Also if you can share any experiences/information I would appreciate it, I’ve never been to treatment before and I’m terrified
Hi the Google reviews make this place sound like a prison, I know people only usually wanna comment if it’s negative but like, saying it was dirty, staff were mean/condescending, do you have to wear a house arrest like tracking bracelet? all these things have come up in the Google reviews multiple times, they also reiterate in multiple different reviews that groups don’t really happen and no one gets individual/family therapy even when they ask… so I’m kinda worried about all that especially because I would be trapped there from out of state.. im guessing that’s all a different psych ward/unit/area whatever and not ED Unit specific
but still scary, any comment on any of those things?
Im not trying to be disrespectful I am just genuinely concerned by the reviews.
Hello, I am the Director of Business Development for Tower Behavioral Health and available for any questions regarding Resiliency Eating Disorder program. Dr. Michael Pertschuk is our provider and has extensive experience and expertise in acute eating disordered treatment in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The program is available for any individuals 14yrs and older. We see individuals who may also be experiencing anxiety and or depression and related concerns in addition to an eating disorder. Your multidisciplinary team includes a psychiatrist and or a nurse practitioner, RN’s, therapists, registered dietician, case manager, licensed teacher (for those enrolled in school) and behavioral health assistants. The length of treatment is determined by individual need and progress. We are in network with most commercial insurance plans, Medicare and most PA Medicaid plans.
Can you answer the full review template questions?
Thank you for sharing this info and for answering the review questions above too!
– Do you ever do longer stays for people who have Medicare so can’t go to residential treatment? Do you accept Medicare Advantage plans or only straight Medicare?
I see the review questions you answered says no electronics access.
– Can we use mp3/music players (like an old iPod) as long as they don’t have internet access?
– What do we do if we need to pay bills? Is there a unit computer or if not can we use our cell phone with staff supervision to do that? I don’t have a “loved one” or support person in my life to do stuff like that for me.
– Do unit phones do long distance calls? I’d be coming from out of state.
Do you treat people who have co-occurring mental health disorders?
How are patients roomed? How many patients to a room? Are adolescents matched with other adolescents and adults with other adults? Are same genders roomed together? (aka female identifying with female identifying, nonbinary with nonbinary, male identifying with male identifying) Are the beds comfortable?
Any recent reviews? I found years of recovery with Dr.P at Brandywine years ago. I’ve been waitlisted the last few weeks at Tower and hope I can get in soon!
Does anyone have a recent review for the tower program? It looks like it would meet my needs, short-term, stabilization more so than a residential setting. I am an adult. Thank you!
I can give a recent review if anyone needs. I just got discharged may9 2025
Hey! if you can that would be awesome
Hi! I am likely being admitted next week to Resiliency at Tower Behavioral Health. My dietitian wants me to get stabilized up to an appropriate weight to continue seeing her outpatient. I need to gain about [redacted*] pounds to get to that outpatient level… what is the rate of gain here and how long does it take? I was wondering if someone could do an updated complete review? And also could you include more detailed info on how the meal plan works when you come in and how it progresses throughout restoration, what choices you have, and also a bunch of examples of meals breakfasts, lunches, dinners on meal plan levels, and also snacks (like what is served and what are options), are “fun foods” served and what kind and how often, how is the atmosphere is it clinical and cold or welcoming? What are meals and snacks like? Is restorations with food or supplement? What are supplementation options and what is the policy of calculating supplement? Does supplement count as completion? What movement privileges? Can you provide the meal and snack and supplement menu? Thanks! Are the staff nice? Do you get to go outside? How is therapy? I’m nervous with assessments… when I arrive will they do EKG and vitals and labs? Do I have to be measured when I get there… I told them my height on the phone. What airport do you fly to and how do you get to the place and what is admittance process? Thanks so much!
*number redacted by admin per site policy
Hi, I haven’t been to this program but would love more information. Can you do a full review once you are there?
Any recent reviews for Tower Behavioral Health Resiliency adult inpatient program in PA? It seems like Medicare typically does not cover much, but do you know the average length of stay when you were there?
Do they try to get people weight restored before discharge?
Also, did you find the program to be helpful? The reviews seem to be mixed, and there are not many for the ED unit. Thank you:))
questions i found on tumblr w/ my responses
When were you there? oct – dec 2021 and jan 30th – feb 28
Is it co-ed? yes
How many patients were there? 13 theres one private room
What was the admissions process like? i was admitted both times for depression then moved to the ED unit so im not really sure if the process is the same for ED patients
Describe the average day
5-630 weights/vitals have to wear a gown for weights
730-830 school if ur still enrolled
905-1005 breakfast
1010-1230
105-205 lunch
one or two more groups
4 snack
free time
530-630 dinner
630-8 virtual phone calls basically u sign up to facetime or use google meet to talk to friends and family you only get 15 mins theres only 6 slots sign up is usually during community or after breakfast
sometimes staff gets busy if theres a new admit or whatever so snack might be late or early but it’s usually around 815-840
like i said depends if snack is late or early but rooms open usually at 915 its a hour after meals
the group room closes around 1030ish but it depends whose working
What were meals like?
they were okay the food was decent nothing spectacular depends on your level
lvl one: where everyone starts dont get to pick meals you have to consistently eat above a certain range to move up
lvl two: get to pick meals based on ur meal plan there are five plans that the dietitian will pick for you based on needs ur plan might change while ur there
lvl three: you get to go through the line and pick your meals it still has to fit your meal plan the dietitian is there to help you the first couple times
sometime staff or the dietitian will eat you at the table the hospital isnt specifically for eds so the cafeteria has several small tables that get pushed together you can choose to not eat at the big table
they can accommodate for vegetarians but not vegans the also accommodate allergies and other stuff
supplements?
they have boost, ensure, and a certain brand of ice cream i don’t remember what percentage gets what it goes from 4oz to 16oz sometimes people have to get daily supplements like if you cant eat all of your food for a medical reason you might get moved to a lower meal plan and have to drink a supplement
they used to have chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry but they only have the first two now im gonna pu this here also alot of places tube you if you dont eat once but Tower isnt like that the dr will talk to you about it if you need one but if you tell him youll eat more and you do eat more you wont be tubed but its very individualized
What sort of groups do they have?
yoga- very slow and soft sometimes its in a chair but not always sometimes outside or in the gym
movement: you have to be approved once a a week in the gym you go and workout
pet: dogs !!
horse: big dogs !!
process: you have these at least once a say or more if something happened you basically just talk about how you feel about a situation that happened on the unit or if you need to work out a problem on the unit
skill: exactly what it sounds like you learn skills talk about your ed coping skills stuff like that
art: there are two art therapists one is great the other is not no names but the lady on the weekend is something else weekend is more crafts during the week the other lady gives you a prompt and u can do that or something else
nutrition: dietitian does a group
music: you get to play instruments listen to music fairly simple
sometimes the case manager or family therapist will do a group
What was the average length of stay?
they say its 3-6 weeks but it could be more or less iknew a girl that was only theres for a week but i also knew a girl who was there for five months it just depends on your recovery mentally and medically
Age range?
its 12-65 as far as i know they try not to admit under 14 but if you need help they probably wont deny you
what do they do about aftercare?
depends what you need regardless they try to step down to PHP or IOP but if thats not possible theyll look at outpatient if you still need 24/7 care but can be mostly ok on your own they’ll recommend residential
if u have any questions let me know 🙂
Thank you!
Do they allow coffee? Do you share rooms? How strict are they?
I know you answered it above, but what is their policy of not completing? Do you have to sit with Ensure etc or are you just offered it? Do they do things like bedrest or wheelchair if you’re not completing? Also, do you know if they take involuntary patients?
in regards to not completing, they would ask you if you wanted your supplement you can say no or just sit with it they would like you to at least sit with it but they dont force you they wont make you use a wheelchair or anything but if you’re unstable or off balance alot you can ask for a walker/wheelchair but you might not get one bc they’re usually reserved for older ppl on the other units
i think they take involuntary minors but im not sure abt adults
and something i forgot to mention, its not an eating disorder hospital its just a unit for eating disorders in a psychiatric hospital
Still looking for a review from ANYONE who has been to the new Tower location…TIA
Is anyone able to give a review on this new center? I know it’s under Dr. P still, but I would like to find out more about what the days are like, meals, downtime, etc.
hello folks. I am anticipating potentially going here in the next few weeks, and would really appreciate any information as to what the program was like for you.
Does anyone have a recent review?
Brandywine’s inpatient eating disorder unit just reopened at Tower Behavioral Health’s new psychiatric hospital in Reading, PA. It is run by the same doctor who ran the program at Brandywine and previously the program at Friends. Link here: https://www.towerbehavioralhealth.com/programs/eating-disorder/
If you have any updated info please share!
I’m sorry to hear Brandywine is closing. I will never forget what one of their staff, ***, told me: “The demons only want what’s worth taking.”
***name redacted by admin per site policy – although for the record we absolutely love this
Has anyone attended Brandywine? I know they closed but are reopening with the same doctor in PA.
Oh wow! That would be great, we desperately need another IP unit in that area. No one should have to wait 2-4 months for inpatient treatment, but that’s what people are having to do in the US now, it’s barbaric.
I’m going to make an exception to our strict no-name policy for discussion around this. Let’s use the last initial and call him “Dr. P,” since it’s what people call him anyway, and it’ll be hard to discuss without being able to actually refer to him.
Does Brandwine ED program still exist? If you click on eating disorders on their website it goes to an error page.
Anon,
Brandywine unfortunately no longer exists which is a blow to those of us struggling in PA who have state insurance. it does not allow for many options, especially adults. Best of luck in finding treatment!
I loved Dr. P! The program he is opening in Reading should be the same as Brandywine. He was amazing and saved my life. He is understanding and genuine. If you do what you need to do he will support you and your decisions. When I was there, many others had been multiple times bc of backsliding. I actually have been in contact with them bc I am backsliding myself. I sent them my records to see what they say. The ones that had been with him before all said he was great and he is. I know some of the same people came with him. Not sure who though. I highly recommend Dr. P!
Dr P just opened a new unit in Reading PA this past week. I heard that it will be all new staff except for Dr P. I was a patient at Brandywine about ten years ago and had a horrible experience. If you weren’t anorexic or even just a little bit overweight you were fat shamed. You were put on a weight loss diet where you were only allowed to eat things like fruit for a snack. If you had yogert it had to be fat free. They told me how many pounds a week I should be aiming for to loose each week, This was extremely difficult to hear because I went in for binging, purging ,overexercising and restricing, When I told them the amount I was exercise I was told think how much bigger you would be if you weren’t exercising that much. Dr P use to leave everyones weights out on in desk in plain site. (such a major HIPPA violation). One time we had a group where they divide us into a few groups. It was a nutrition group and we were talking about cake. We were then told this group would just stare at the cake. This group would eat the whole cake plus more, this next group will eat the whole cake and then purge. They told me that I would never get better. I was pretty solid in recovery until some health problems occurred. I would just recommend to proceed with caution.
So Would you not recommend this program to someone who’s overweight with Bulimia? I don’t want to be pressured to lose weight. I think that would be very harmful and counterproductive to my recovery. I think it’s really hard for people who are overweight to find good ED programs that are truly HAES where they won’t experience fatphobia from staff and other patients. I think some of the programs that tend to get really good reviews on here, the good reviews are from thin people with AN-R, and it can be a very different experience ( and sometimes harmful experience) at the same treatment center if you’re in a larger body or don’t have a restrictive ED, so sometimes I don’t feel like lots of the reviews on here are applicable to me because I’m a very different type of patient than most of the people who are leaving reviews, and often Anorexic patients get treated very differently than overweight patients with BN or BED, so their reviews of the program might not apply to me. I’ve only ever been to one program that I felt was truly HAES, Canopy Cove, but they closed down a few years ago sadly.
Can you have your phone/laptop? Older reviews say no but their website mentions wifi so maybe they changed it?
Anyone have recent reviews on inpatient eating disorder treatment at Brandywine hospital in PA or John’s Hopkins in MD? Only 2 that will accept me. Hopkins has a wait but Brandywine can possibly work me in sooner.
**Cross-posted by Admin so that more people will see it**
was wondering too!?
Brandywine Eating Disorder Unit is in utter shambles. There is no program, and staff don’t behave appropriately or even show up in the first place.
Brandywine EDU are ill-equipped, unprepared, unprofessional, understaffed, and unsupervised. Individual therapists don’t even have the consideration to meet with clients. Therapists show up to work but they decide not to actually have any sort of therapy session, or any session at all, with each individual patient.
This is really poor, and unacceptable. And I will make sure that I see this unit shut down. It’s that bad, and I’m that committed. A more detail review will follow.
As promised, the full review…
Brandywine Eating Disorder Unit is in utter shambles. There is no program, and staff don’t behave appropriately or even show up in the first place. Brandywine EDU are ill-equipped, unprepared, unprofessional, understaffed, and unsupervised. Individual therapists don’t even have the consideration to meet with clients. Therapists show up to work but they decide not to actually have any sort of therapy session, or any session at all, with each individual patient.
I demanded on multiple occasions to see my assigned individual therapist, Kara Savastio, at this program, and she refused. One patient who was wasting away, had the same therapist told me that Kara didn’t meet with her for going on three weeks.
Brandywine EDU has inconsistent portion sizes with meals. Brandywine EDU also does not enforce meal completion as you would expect a regular eating disorder facility to do. If you don’t finish, it’s a mere shrug from staff members, they don’t even properly supplement for non compliance.
Patients were wasting away, they were almost fatally culpable with incompetently mishandling a medical emergency. One nutritionist would disassociate while leading groups! Patients were left unattended in dining room constantly. Staff did not communicate with each other at all.
This is an acute inpatient facility, remember. How is that allowed?
This is a sinister program and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are criminal, abusive, and fraudulent practices going on. Multiple HIPAA violations.
This is really poor, and obviously unacceptable. And I will make sure that I see this unit shut down. It’s that bad, and I’m that committed.
*I had been all over the country for eating disorder treatment, more than 10 facilities before I tried Brandywine. Sadly, I speak from experience here – this unit needs to be shut. Patients are at risk.
This is not what is considered a FULL REVIEW of a treatment program. Those were more of your thoughts and feelings about your experience at Brandywine, much of which was repeated from your first post about Brandywine a few months ago.
Doing a full review means using the questions provided on the site, answering about meal plans, groups, etc. Comments about inconsistent portions, individual appts not happening, etc can go into a review under the appropriate questions.
What you’ve shared does not tell anyone about the structure of the program, what a day there is like, what a typical length of stay (range) might be, the age range on the unit, what privileges people there can or cannot earn, etc.
WHEN WERE YOU THERE: July 2019
DESCRIBE THE AVERAGE DAY: Wake up at 6AM for weights and vital signs. Then you have until 7:45AM to shower, get ready for the day, and take before breakfast medications. 7:45-8:15AM: Community Meeting (set daily goals, discuss any issues on the unit). 8:15-9:00AM: breakfast. 9:30-10:15AM: group. 10:15-10:30AM: bathroom break and snack if you have one. 10:30-11:30AM: group. 11:30-12:15: free time, bathroom break. 12:15-1:15PM: lunch. 1:30-2:30: group. 2:40-3:15PM: group. 3:15-3:30: bathroom break and snack if you have one. 30:30-4:30: group. 4:30-5:15PM: free time, bathroom break. 5:15-6:15PM: dinner. 6:30-7:25PM: wrap-up group. 7:30-8/8:30PM (depending on the day): free time, bathroom break. 8:30-9:00PM: snack if you have one. Lights out at 11:00PM, 12:00AM on weekends. Visiting hours are twice a week for an hour during the week 7:30-8:30, and 3:30-4:30 on weekends.
WHAT WERE MEALS LIKE: You fill out menus a few days ahead of time. Everyone’s food arrives on a tray. They use the exchange system (carbs, proteins, veggies, fruits, milk, and lipids), and you have to pick items to meet your exchanges. If you come in needing to gain weight, you’ll be put on a weight restoration meal plan–there are different levels of that (weight restoration #1-#4). If you don’t need to gain weight, you’ll be put on a maintenance meal plan. You have 45 minutes to eat (but they usually give you an hour). Staff sit with patients during meals, and they eat their own meals or snacks. Patients talk and play word games during meals. Usually the atmosphere wasn’t too tense. If you complete 100% of your meal, you can have coffee or tea afterwards (only real coffee in the morning!)
WHAT SORTS OF FOODS WERE AVAILABLE OR SERVED? Not a lot of variety, but the food was decent. Breakfast: cold cereals, oatmeal, cream of wheat, toast, English muffins, pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit, juice, milk (you can have soy milk), yogurt, cottage cheese. Lunch and dinner were pretty much the same options: baked chicken or fish, hamburger, veggie burger, grilled cheese, stir fry (beef or tofu), chicken or egg salad wraps, pizza, sometimes deli sandwiches. Dessert was offered at some dinners, but you didn’t have to have one. On weight restoration meal plans, you have to have a “challenge carb” at lunch (cookie, pudding, ice cream, sherbet–the portions weren’t that big).
DID THE SUPPLEMENT? HOW DID THAT SYSTEM WORK? If you don’t finish your meal, you’re offered an Ensure Plus–a whole Ensure for 70% or less of the meal, and 1/2 an Ensure if you did more than 70%. The Ensure is offered at the next snack time; you don’t have to do it right after the meal.
WHAT PRIVILEGES WERE ALLOWED? Not many. There are computers in the group room that you can use during free time, but you’re not supposed to use them if you don’t complete all of your meals and snacks that day. If you’re doing 100% and you’re medically stable, you can go on walks (when they’re offered, which isn’t often–maybe once or twice a week). You can’t use your cell phone–it has to stay locked up, unless you have a special family situation or emergency. Patients share one phone on the unit.
DOES IT WORK ON A LEVEL SYSTEM? No
WHAT SORTS OF GROUPS DO THEY HAVE? CBT, psychotherapy, art therapy, movement (you don’t really move much), DBT, nutrition, recreation (play games), stress management, relapse prevention.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE GROUP? Dr. R’s therapy groups were always good. Art was usually good, too.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST? Dr. P., the medical director, is a really good guy. He’s understanding and reasonable, and cares about his patients. They’re able to handle medical issues there. I had medical problems while I was there, and Dr. P. addressed them quickly. Most of the staff are helpful and nice, and when I was there, the other patients were supportive.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE LEAST? There are a lot of rules and very little freedom. Also, they don’t start off slow with the meal plans–it’s tough for most people when they first come in. I think maybe they push you a little too hard in that way. You have to stay out of your room all day; they’re locked, expect for an hour on weekend afternoons during visiting hours, and an hour in the evenings.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM? I’d recommend it for short-term stabilization, if you’re motivated.
WHAT LEVEL OF ACTIVITY WAS ALLOWED? Not much. You walk from the unit to the cafeteria in the building next door for meals, and maybe once or twice a week you have a group walk (depends on time and who’s working). Sometimes you get to do stretching or light yoga in group.
WHAT DID PEOPLE DO ON WEEKENDS? There are groups on the weekends, just a few less than during the week.
DO YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR WEIGHT? Dr. P. will sometimes tell you, but he won’t discuss it with you if he thinks you’re obsessing about it too much.
HOW FAST IS THE WEIGHT GAIN PROCESS? I was told that they aim for around 3 lbs per week, but it can be more than that. Depends on the person and what’s happening with your body.
WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY? They say it’s usually 2-3 weeks, and that seemed accurate to me. Some patients who need to gain a lot of weight might stay for a couple of months.
WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE AGE RANGE? They take as young as 13. When I was there, ages ranged from 13 to 60’s. They take boys and men.
WHAT KIND OF AFTERCARE DO THEY PROVIDE? DO THEY HELP YOU SET UP AN OUTPATIENT TREATMENT TEAM? The team helps you set up aftercare. They usually want people to go to PHP afterwards if possible. Sometimes they recommend residential. If there are no programs near where you live, then they’ll try to have you stay longer and then make sure that you at least have outpatient providers.
HOW MANY INPATIENT BEDS? HOW MANY PATIENTS IN PHP OR IOP? 16 inpatient beds. No PHP or IOP.
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Well, for me my stay on EDU was this time last year. The program was very strict to me. The BR and bathroom doors locked, having to count in the bathroom even though I don’t purge, 6am wake up was a challenge initially as well, I thought it helpful to trust and accept help from the staff because my thinking just made me worse. I learned Ed is really not about the food. Yet, there was a lot of focus with food and observed power struggles used about eating 100% of meals or snacks; and then focus shifted to food instead of issues. I just wondered about the real benefit of it. I also think this thought process relates to necessary requirements for program certification and insurance payments.
My 20 day stay was a rollercoaster ride in the beginning because this was my first inpatient stay ever. It took me the first 7 days to adjust and begin dealing with the inpatient process, trying to identifying emotions, treatment goals, and deal with issues. However, the EDU staff was very good and helped me think about my issues in a different way by validating my experiences in relation to Ed with trauma. Dr. P was able to get approval for 2 meds I didn’t think my insurance would approve. This has been a game changer for me. Ed behaviors have noticeably improved since last year. Also, having previous work experience in the mental health field, opened my eyes to seeing the person and not just the diagnosis and stigma existing within mental health settings. Since my stay, I attended a Wellness Recovery Action Plan(WRAP) training. I believe this type of plan would have been very helpful to in providing more positive reinforcement, identify specific supports/goals with self confidence to focus on recovery in every day life; having a tangible plan for after my hospital stay. Secondly, I strongly encourage the EDU team to incorporate an understanding of Childhood Emotional Neglect(CEN) their program. This concept involves what a child was NOT given growing up by parents or other caregivers. I have realized this is when the true beginning of my mental health issues began. I learned about the invisible and unconscious generational consequences/effects modeled for me because it is the way my parents were parented. Please check out drjonicewebb.com for detailed information on CEN. She also wrote “Running on Empty”. A detailed easy to read book on CEN with real case examples.
Lastly, if you know an impatient stay becomes necessary for you, strongly consider EDU at Brandywine Hospital. This can be the start of providing yourself with good self care.
B
Anyone been here recently? It seems overall very well-regarded and that the head of the unit, the psychiatrist, is exceptional.
Anyone have recent review? Can I have my phone or iPod? Going next week
I haven’t been there, sorry. :/ I’ve heard the doctor there is amazing though, so I’ve been looking at this program too. Can you do a review when you get back? That would be so helpful. And good luck!
Can anyone who has been there in the last year or two do a full review of the adult program?
Can someone provide the template for the Maintenance Meal Plan please?
I was in Brandywine May of 2017. As a 14 year old, my review might be from a slightly different point of view. First, there was a lot of school. I know school is important, but we had 7-8 hours a day, and we missed all of the groups. I felt so alone because after meals, instead of being in a support group, I’d be in school bawling my eyes out. Also, some of the nurses were rude of triggering. For example, one nurse would stare at us when we ate, and if we stopped for a little she’d say, “Come on, just eat it.” This was really annoying, considering how massive our meals were, and she would eat a salad everyday. I’d like to see her try. Also, the place is really frustrating at times when they prolong your discharge, and they should definitely give your more information on your progress. Last, they force their stupid “recovery hope” bullcrap down your throat, and nobody wants to hear it. I get they want to help, but it really feels like nobody understands there. The nurses look at you in an annoyed way if you start crying over meals. They say all this hopeful crap, but they don’t support us much.
Enough with the negatives, though. This place was honestly pretty decent, and since I hated it, I’m probably making it sound worse than it was. There are 3 computers they patients share if you eat 100%. Also, the teacher, Ms. **** (edited for names), was super understanding and actually really supportive. She let us skip school sometimes to go to groups if we were super upset and needed to talk it out to someone. She also always offered to help, schoolwise and emotionalwise. I cried A LOT there, and she always comforted me. Also, the schoolwork was very distracting and I didn’t get behind that much, unlike other places I’ve been. About the groups, since kids were in them on weekends- some were boring, some were really good. Altea, as lovely as a lady she was, lead super boring groups. Dr. **** (edited for names), who was super scary but super awesome, lead the best groups. She also made us coffee! Anyways, a lot of the therapists, techs, and nurtitionalists are always there to help you and talk to you if you need help. You have therapy 3 times a week, and family therapy once a week. Your family can visit weekends, tuesdays, and thursdays. During free time, we mainly talked, did simple art projects, watched movies, played board games, ect. A lot of the kids hung out together, and I made a lot of great friends! In my second week, they had me laughing so hard I was crying, and I never thought I could act that way with someone I hadn’t known long. People get really close here. There were also many many adults there, more than there were kids, and they were very supportive too, and they were like substitute parents while we were away from home, which was really nice. The only problem with the mixed age ranges is that adults were talking about super serious stuff in groups that kids “couldn’t handle”, and they would make us step out, which was super weird and awkward. It kind of made us feel left out and like our problems weren’t valid. Last, the rooms were very homey, as well as the group area. The only weird thing was that you basically live in a secluded hallway, which is very ‘trapped’ feeling. Anyways, I do reccomened the place. Not all inpatient facilities are perfect, and none of them are fun, but this one was very helpful.
they didnt let me make myart,journal,or dress the way i wanted. more like state prison than anything else.bad evil place, i got physically abused here!!! dont go. they force their defeatist ‘hope’ slogans down your throat!! its sickening. i was 00 when i got in, 4 when i left. 🙁 now im backat 00. fuck them and their ‘help’. dr.p ,however, is super nice and cool
When I was 15, I was sent to this hospital. Words can’t describe how much I hated their system & overall experience they gave me. I’m currently 17 years old now & I still have so much anger from this one place. I felt like they didn’t care about my mental health at all whatsoever, and the nutritionist was not even doing her job for me. A fellow patient explained my meal plan to me & what lipids were. I felt so alone & so far from my loved ones. Just being put into a random hospital & rarely getting to talk to your parents was heart breaking for both parties. Nurses and patients gave me absolutely no privacy… listening to me on the phone begging my parents to get me out of here & then when I’d get off I’d get in trouble for saying that over the phone. Then a patient made fun of my skin color since I was tan in the summer. Just counting with the door open in the bathroom was weird enough. Incorrect meal percentages were happening, when I’d successfully eat everything. Just overall the worst place I went to & it still haunts me. Don’t recommend this place at all!
Yes to both just no spirals on the journal and everything will be searched and checked
can you bring a journal?? and also are your parents allowed to bring you things when they visit?
Can they accommodate gastroparesis
yes.
“When were you there?” January 13, 2016- January 26, 2016
“How many patients on average?” There were 11 of us when I was there. I think the unit can hold like 20 people.
“Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?” Yes, it treats both and treatment is combined. The majority of patients are women, although before I came, there were three men.
“Do you have a specific treatment team?” Yes. Everybody has the same psychiatrist and medical doctor, but each person is assigned to an individual therapist, family therapist, and dietician. You don’t have choice of who you have, but you can make a request to change if you don’t work well with them.
“How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?” You will see a psychiatrist every day. A medical doctor will meet with you on your first day and as needed. Individual therapy is about 3 times a week, and nutrition and family therapy are about twice a week.
“What is the staff ratio to patients?” Every staff member is very sweet. However, they are usually very busy. I’m not sure of the staff ratio to patients, but this makes me think that it might be low- maybe 1:3.
“Describe the average day?”
6=wake up, pee, get temperature and blind weight taken, vitals, water. Once everyone is done staff will distribute sharps and you can take a shower or go back to bed.
8:15-9=breakfast
9:15=meds
9:30-10:45=group
10:30=snack
10:45-11:30=group
12:15-1=lunch
1:15-2:15=group
2:15-3:15=group
3:30=snack
3:45-4:30=group
4:30-5=vitals
5:15-6=dinner
6:30-7:30=group
8:30-9=snack
7:30-10:30=recreation: reading, TV, games (this is extended to 11 on weekends)
10:30= bedtime (this is extended to 11 on weekends)
“What was meal-time like?” All meals were eaten in a dining room attached to the cafeteria. There are six tables and only three people to a table (usually). Staff will assign seats. If you have a breakdown during meals the staff is fine with taking you out of the room and letting you calm down.
“What do meals consist of?” Everyone has a different meal plan and the program is good with establishing that. The meal plans range from maintenance to WR4. However, most people come in on weight recovery and are immediately put on WR1. If you lose weight consistently, you will go up a meal plan but that doesn’t happen a lot. WR1 consists of:
Breakfast-
2 proteins
3 carbs
2 lipids
1 dairy
2 fruits
Lunch-
3-4 oz protein
3 carbs + challenge carb
2 lipids
1 dairy
1 fruit
1 vegetable
Dinner-
3-4 oz protein
3 carbs
2 lipids
1 dairy
2 fruits
2 vegetables
“What sorts of food were available or served?” For breakfast there is cottage cheese, eggs, yogurt, milk, French toast, cereal (Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Cheerios, Rice Chex), pancakes, bagels, English muffins, toast, syrup, juice, butter, pb, fruit (apples, bananas, oranges, peach or pear cups), juice. For lunch and dinner there are different mains such as pizza every other Monday, mac n’ cheese, roasted turkey, pork loin, grilled chicken, cheeseburger, omelette, chef salad, vegetable lasagna, tuna, etc. Sides were salads, vegetables (steamed carrots, broccoli, peas and mushrooms, green beans, mixed cooked veggies), noodles, mashed potatoes, whipped sweet potatoes, roasted red potatoes, rice, roll, flour tortilla, sliced wheat bread, Saltines, graham crackers, jello, ice cream, shortbread cookies, Oreos, sherbet, fruit, juice, milk, yogurt, etc.
“Did they supplement? How did that system work?” If you are on weight recovery you will probably be put on one or two Ensure Plus (maybe more). One Ensure Plus is equivalent to two Yoplait yogurts or two Enlives.
“What is the policy of not complying with meals?” If you don’t eat one meal you will get enough Ensures to make up for what you missed. If you short-fall (eating most of the meal, including protein, but not all) you will only get one Ensure. Even if you leave one bite of food on your plate, you will have your privileges taken away. Also, I’m not sure how many meals you have to miss, but there was a girl there for two weeks straight with a feeding tube.
“Are you able to be a vegetarian?” Since you choose your own menus, there are vegetarian options to choose from. There must be a protein with every meal. The menu has included meal options such as cottage cheese and fruit plate, grilled cheese, and peanut butter and jelly. You can also write in a vegetarian option if there are none already, but you have to let your dietician know first. The vegetarian write-in options are veggie burgers, vegetarian sausage, vegetarian chicken patties, and black bean burgers.
“What privileges are allowed?” The privileges allowed are being on the computer, going outside to smoke or get some fresh air after meals, going on walks, and coffee or tea after a meal or at snack. I’m not sure if bathrooms are privileges too.
“Does it work on a level system?” Not sure what this means, so I don’t think so.
“How do you earn privileges?” Only if you eat 100% at all meals for the day do you get privileges. For example, if you ate breakfast and lunch you could have privileges, but if you skipped dinner they would be revoked for the day. Every day is a new day, though.
“What sort of groups do they have?” The groups were not very well structured, in my opinion. There are a lot of “check-in” groups with the therapists. Sometimes you play games in groups. One of the family therapists likes to give out packets. The dietitians lead nutrition, meal planning, etc groups.
“What was your favorite group?” One of the dietitians leads fun groups usually in the morning. When I was there, we did a skit, we drew pictures, we just chatted. Great woman.
“What did you like the most?” I liked the bathroom privileges. You have a bathroom in your room. In the morning, they unlock your bathroom for two hours so you can shower and pee. At night, they unlock your bathroom for like an hour so you can number two in peace (just being honest). During the day when you use the bathroom, they let you close the door but you have to count. I have been at numerous ED inpatient facilities and I’ve never been to one like Brandywine with the freedom of privately using the bathroom.
“What did you like the least?” I disliked that there was absolutely no structure to the groups, or schedule. It’s a hospital setting, the patients need to be on a set schedule for meals and snacks and groups and bathroom breaks. That’s what being inpatient is for. There were days when we would go to dinner 45 minutes late.
“Would you recommend this program?” I would definitely recommend this program. I loved it a lot more than other programs I’ve been to. Although, I was the youngest person there and was supported by everyone, so my option might be biased. I know a lot of my fellow patients were not very happy with some of the staff members, or the way they were talked to.
“What level of activity or exercise was allowed?” Once again, the amount was much more than any place I’ve been too. When you’re in the group room, usually there isn’t a staff member in there, so you basically do whatever you want. Me and a few of the other girls jumped around and threw stress balls at each other. Don’t do that in front of staff though! They usually tell you to sit down or stop shaking your leg, but they aren’t too harsh. You walk to meals every day, so there is about a five minute exercise period for each one. One of the nutritionists takes you on walks around the hospital, sometimes. The school teacher takes students who eat 100% on walks outside and to get coffee. I’ve heard that there is a therapist that does yoga sometimes but it didn’t happen while I was there.
“Can you smoke?” You’re allowed to smoke as long as you eat 100% of all meals for the day. You can bring your own tobacco and lighters but staff keeps them until it’s time for smoke break.
“Do they allow caffeine?” Caffeine is allowed as long as you eat 100%. Coffee is available after meals provided by the cafeteria. The staff heats water for coffee and tea during night snack. One of the family therapists has a Keurig and makes coffee during her groups.
“Do you get to pick your meals?” Yes, about five days in advance you are given a menu to fill out.
“What did people do on weekends?” Weekends are pretty boring. There is no school for the adolescents, and not very many groups, maybe two or three. In the morning, most of the patients just slept. You could also do puzzles, color, read, use the computer, etc.
“Do you get to know your weight?” You are weighed every morning without knowing, and the nurses aren’t allowed to tell you. If you ask Dr. P he will probably tell you, or ask your therapist to tell you. Don’t ask everyday or he will stop.
“What do you wear?” There are so many different people who wear so many different things. Overall, I’ve noticed that people look pretty good. In previous hospitals, I’ve noticed patients wear pajamas all day, sweatpants, tee shirts, slippers, sweatshirts, etc. In Brandywine you are encouraged to try. Most people wore jeans or leggings, sweaters, cute jackets, hats, etc. The only items not allowed are scarves and belts.
“What objects are not allowed?” Scarves and belts are prohibited, as well as anything sharp, such as razors. I think you can bring knitting needles and crotchet hooks but the staff has to keep them unless they’re watching you use them. No personal electronics are permitted, except laptops, but they tape the camera. It’s a confidentiality thing.
“How fast is the weight gain process?” The weight gain process is an okay pace- not too rapid. I think the average weight gain is 2-3 pounds a week which is amazing.
“What was the average length of stay?” I was there for exactly two weeks. There was a girl who was there for nine days, and a girl that was there for six and a half weeks. I think the average is supposed to be 3-4 weeks, but it really depends on how well you are doing.
“What was the average age range?” Age is all over the place. Like I said, I was the youngest at 15. There were a few teenagers when I first got there. I think most people were in their twenties or thirties, although there was a fifty-something year old patient too.
“How does the program make school work?” Students (high school, college, anyone getting a degree) go to the school room at the end of the hall in between breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner. I think you get about five hours to work (except weekends). The school teacher is great. She’s good at getting work, faxing it back in a timely manner, and communicating with the school.
“How do visits/phone calls work?” Visiting hours are very limited. Tuesday and Thursday visiting hours are 7-8:30 I think (sorry, I might be wrong but it’s definitely after dinner), and Saturday and Sunday visiting hours are 3-4:30. During visiting hours, the staff unlocks your room so that if you don’t have visitors, you can take a nap or hang out in there.
“Are you able to go out on passes?” Yes! The doctor encourages you to go out before your discharge. You get a few hours to eat a meal and do whatever.
“What kind of aftercare do they provide?” I know the doctor has his own PHP program, but he will usually recommend somewhere closer to where you live.
“Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?” Yes, although they didn’t do very well for me at least. They set me up with a therapist and psychiatrist (who I had previously), but didn’t make an appointment with my regular nutritionist, which I thought would have been the most important! I’m not sure what they would do if you hadn’t had a treatment team prior to coming in, though.
“Overall, is the program worth it?” Definitely 🙂
Hello! I’m possibly going to Reading, where they moved their program to. (Same program, different location.. I think). What clothes were you allowed to wear? Are you allowed to wear shorts?
Yes you can wear shorts. But they have to be longer shorts. Nothing remotely revealing. No strapped tank tops.
Do they still take patients to the cafeteria from link and dinner? Is their salad / salad bar? What are the options or vegetarians (proteins)?
Hello,
Just wanted to drop a line in here too see if anyone has been here in the past year. If so could you tell me a quick update on what your experience was. I will most likely be going to Brandywine in a little bit. Want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly. I know everyone’s experience is different. I have been to other IP treatment centers before so I have a jest of what to expect with rules/schedule, etc.
I want to know things like:what I CAN NOT bring that they don’t tell you. Again I have an idea from speaking to a woman there, but I ACTUALLY want to know from people who have been there.
Another thing is if & when you are allowed to use your laptop: can you go on Facebook &/or other social media sites or are they blocked entirely.
Anything else anyone would deem helpful would be GREAT! Thanks a bunch!
its evil here. only one staff member was nice as pie and she was from serbia or some slavic nation. the others were ass wipes and nasty. i felt like poor little alex in clockwork orange. survive then go back to your old ways as i did. i now model again
Do you have anything else obhective? That would be great. I hope you find a healthy road, you deserve it.
well the nutritionist played favourites and i was yelled at for wearing a Burzum tshirt bc it displayed ‘dark imagery’ so the place was bad. food was decent but by my reliogion, i cant eat beef or pork andthey didnt accomodate this so i was kept longer.
I would only recommend Brandywine if you truly have a lot to gain. The groups are really not helpful. I was there 3 times with an EDNOS diagnosis and really felt completely out of place. You are locked out of your room essentially all day. The Psychiatrist is very aggressive in his approach and is quick to threaten legal repercussions if you ask to sign a 72 hour agreement in which you state your request to be discharged within the next 72 hours. I was there twice in the fall of 2010 and once in the summer of last year. I only know one person from the three times I was there who is in recovery, and I’m not one of them. That’s obviously not completely on them, but I think it says a lot about a program if no one is recovering after leaving. I had a serious PTSD reaction to being locked in the last time and they did absolutely nothing to address it except threaten to take me to court to have me legally committed if I signed a 72. The weekends are terrible because there aren’t really any groups and you still aren’t allowed in your room most of the day so you spend the day doing nothing. The good news is they are on a privilege system where you can use the computer, (your own in the evening) if you eat 100% of your meals that day. You do get to go outside also if you eat 100% and if you’re a smoker you get to continue smoking (which I think is completely ridiculous). The staff has changed a lot over the years but the dietitian, family therapist and a couple of the other staff remain. There is also a WIDE range of ages which was a struggle for me. There was a girl who was barely 12 there, I was 19, and my roommate was in her 50s. There tend to be a lot of adolescents there. It is also a pro that its so small. But again your every move is very much restricted, you have to sing/count in the bathroom! I would never go back there even if I was on my death bed.
DO NOT GO HERE ! ,they are liars .It’s a locked facility and actual hospital they say there is 24 7 care for physician there is not. my daughter is being held against her will.
they won’t even let us see her.we’ve been here all day waiting this dad has been very rude.if you want your daughter in a prison.send them here.
Anyone be willing to provide a more recent review and answer some or all of my questions? I’m curious about the menu choices and if you can select all your meals as well as request replacements for certain foods (ex. orange vs. apple or even type of dessert/snack. For example, I hate slimy overly cheesy foods because they make me kind of nauseous so will they offer other choices.)
Can you go back to your room during breaks?
Are they really strict about bedrest?
Can I bring crocheting and crochet during groups?
Any computer time or cell phone time?
Fresh air breaks and/or outings?
Interaction with mood disorder patients?
Help with prescription drug (ex. pain med or anxiety med) dependance?
Monitoring meals? Do they watch you like a hawk? Can you choose where you sit?
Can you request appts. with your therapist, nutritionist, psych and nurses?
What’s the head psych like? Willing to listen? Open to various medications and help with pain relief?
Are there groups or activities even in the evening or do you end up sitting around for hours stuck with nothing to do?
Can you warm up your food and/or toast breads? Coffee/tea with meals?
Are they quick to tube?
How are they with older patients? I”m around 40yrs. old
What is the weight gain like? Do you get to know your weight? If not, can you ask? Will they discharge if you are at least 75% IBW?
Thanks a ton….I am also looking into Brandywine so if you’ve been to both any recommendations/comparisons/contrasts would be much appreciated!
Did you get a more recent review from anyone?k
Can you go back to your room during breaks?
No.You are pretty much in the dayroom from morning until bedtime.
Are they really strict about bedrest?
When I was there, nobody was on bedrest. They do utilize wheelchairs though.
Can I bring crocheting and crochet during groups?
You can crochet after night snack but that’s about it.
Any computer time or cell phone time?
No cell phones. You can use a computer during breaks and you can have your laptop after night snack. There is one phone on the unit. You can’t use computers unless you complete 100%.
Fresh air breaks and/or outings?
They allow people to go outside after meals but only if you complete 100%. They only take about 5 at a time and smokers get first dibs. They do have some groups where they will take you for a walk around the hospital. You also can walk from the EDU to the cafeteria which is in another building.
Interaction with mood disorder patients?
They seem to deal well with mood disorders.
Help with prescription drug (ex. pain med or anxiety med) dependance?
I don’t have experience with this. I came in on prescribed benzos and they continued them while I was there.
Monitoring meals? Do they watch you like a hawk? Can you choose where you sit?
A staff member sits at every table. They must check your tray before you even touch it. You can pretty much choose where you sit but if you seem to be getting triggered by someone they will make you move.
Can you request appts. with your therapist, nutritionist, psych and nurses?
Yep
What’s the head psych like? Willing to listen? Open to various medications and help with pain relief?
He’s pretty good. He seems to know his stuff.
Are there groups or activities even in the evening or do you end up sitting around for hours stuck with nothing to do?
There are groups pretty much all day long.
Can you warm up your food and/or toast breads? Coffee/tea with meals?
No. Coffee with breakfast, tea at night snack.
Are they quick to tube?
I was never tubed so I personally think no, but others may have a different opinion.
How are they with older patients? Iâ€m around 40yrs. old
There was a wide variety of ages.
What is the weight gain like? Do you get to know your weight? If not, can you ask? Will they discharge if you are at least 75% IBW?
If you don’t gain weight, they increase your meal plan. They weigh you blind but sometimes you are told your weight. I was always kicked out by insurance so I don’t know what they really aim for with discharge.
Does anyone know if Brandywine accepts vegans? I have been vegan for a very long time and I can confidently say it is not part of my eating disorder. I want to uphold my moral beliefs, but I also am in desperate need of treatment.
ii was at brandywine this month for 8 days would have liked to stay longer but insurance wouldn’t cover it is a great program this group are very very helpful and they talk abt the really issues all the therapist are amazing they really care and they really know what their doing the dietachian and most of the stadd are also very caring and understanding the meals are very supportive there is 6 tables and 3 people to a table sometime staff sit with u but they always make it fun. the best part of brandywine was for the first time in my life i made friends
When you were there were there anybody there that had binge eating disorder? If so, how was it for them? I am a 22 year old female and I am battling Binge Eating Disorder. I am going next Monday the 12th of August. I am very overweight because of my eating disorder. I feel like I am going to be looked down upon. Is this normal? Plus, are you allowed to sit by yourself when you are eating? Because I am very scared of eating in front of people.
Hi haley yes there where 2 people there who had binge eating disorder. And no u will not be looked down they are really good at what they do and ths group was extremely supportive and they mostly.likely want u to sit at a table of three and.one staff but it very relaxed noones going to judge u for eating and if its a hugf problem u could ask depending on spsce
Could you do a full review?! I may be getting sent here Thursday.
wow i had a very different experience
Could you explain?
they dont let people sit alone because its considered a behavior, they want you to get used to feeling comfortable eating with other people, which is a skill you will want to have for the rest of your life and in recovery
possible going here monday im scared and i dont need weight gain so im not even really sure why i am going
About how many patients are there? I think there are a total of 20 beds on the unit itself.
Males and females?: Both! Mainly females obviously, but there’s usually a few males there too. When I was there, the age range was from 14 all the way up to a 60 year old, and there were all types of disorders there, so it was a nice variety. Not the cliche “young white anoretic girl”.
Do you have roommates?: Kids only room with other kids (under 18 years old). Boys with boys, girls with girls. You most likely will.
What were the other patients like?: Usually, they’re really understanding. They know what it’s like to be in your shoes and they’re nice and respectful. However, there are some people there sometimes that are just bratty. But everyone enforces the “treat others the way you want to be treated”.
What do people wear all day in groups and around? Is it really cold?: Since it’s almost winter, I reccomend bringing long pants and long sleeved shirts/hoodies.
Do they try to over medicate you?: Everyone gets calcium and a multivitamin, and they give you meds if they feel you need them (medically and mentally) but they tell you what they are. I think you’re allowed to refuse them.
How long do patients usually stay?: Generally 2-3 weeks, sometimes shorter if your insurance kicks you out, longer if they feel you need to stay, aren’t medically stable, etc.
Overall, is the program worth it?
Just got discharged yesterday, so this is completely up-to-date
When were you there: October 20, 2011-November 8, 2011 (three weeks)
Describe the average day:
6am- vitals/weigh-in (7am on weekends). after which you can go back to bed, take a shower, etc.
8am – breakfast (9am on weekend). we were never on time though.
9am- Observation/Groups until 11-12ish
10am snack (if you get one)
12pm- Lunch
1pm- Observation/Groups until around 3:30.
3pm snack (if you get one)
4pm-5pm- Rooms open, so you can go in and take a nap/read/whatever.
5pm- Dinner
6pm- Observation/Groups. Family support group on Tuesday/Thursday from 6:45-7:30.
7:30pm- Sharps time, so you can get your shower stuff ready (but you can’t take one yet), and cell phone/ipod/laptop/etc. ONLY if you did 100% at all meals.
9pm- Snack
9:15pm- Observation
10:15- Rooms&Bathrooms open (so you can shower)
11pm- Lights out (Midnight on friday/saturday)
What were meals like?: We fill out menus a few days in advance. No food talk is allowed, no behaviors (cutting up food, weird combinations are examples), sleeves must be rolled up past elbows, sweatshirts/hoodies off. Lipids must be used in front of a staff member. Finish within 45 minutes.
What sorts of food were available or served?: The coffee is lukewarm at best, you only get it if you did 100% and it’s only caffeinated in the morning. Pasta, fish, burgers, breads, turkey sandwich, tuna/chicken salad, french toast, pancakes, english muffins, cereal, toast, fresh fruits (mainly bananas apples oranges pears), veggies, yogurt, and so on. Hospital food, basically.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?: Ensure Plus is the supplement here. If you’re on weight recovery, you’ll most likely get either 2 or 4 supplements a day. In addition, if you don’t complete at least 75% of your meal you’ll get an additional Ensure Plus.
What privileges are allowed?- ONLY if you do 100% at ALL meals: computers in the lounge, sharps access at 7:30 for your phone or ipod or personal belongings, coffee after meals, tea time, smoke/fresh air break after meals.
Does it work on a level system?: Not sure what this means.
What sort of groups do they have?: Art, regular therapy group, family, mainly.
What was your favorite group?: Art
What did you like the most?: The staff is for the most part very understanding and are willing to work with you if you allow them to and aren’t stubborn. The dietitian is the best!
What did you like the least?: Rooms didn’t open until 10:15, so you wouldn’t actually be asleep until 11 at best, and wake ups are at 6, so you’re getting not enough sleep.
Would you recommend this program?: Yes, to anyone willing to make an effort towards recovery. Don’t bother if you are just going to not make an effort and be noncompliant.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?: If you got a special order from the doctor, you could walk on a treadmill. Depending on your individual therapist, you could go out for a walk around the hospital during your session. That’s about it.
What did people do on weekends?: Television, a few groups (not many since they’re short on staff on weekends), read, talk, whatever you can find to do to occupy your time.
Do you get to know your weight?: Weigh in’s are blind, so you don’t know. Dr. P will rarely let you know your weight, especially if you ask every day. The doctor that’s in on the weekends instead of him will occasionally let you know your progress.
How fast is the weight gain process?: Typically less than 3 pounds a week, but the refeeding process will speed it up, depending on how f-ed up your body is.
Can you smoke?: Only if you complete 100% at meals and aren’t on a fall risk. Smoke breaks are 4 times a day, after meals and 9pm snack.
Do they allow caffeine?: The coffee served in the hospital is only caffeinated in the morning, if you do 100%.
I am vegetarian and also have sever GI issues. Can they work with this?: Yes. Let the dietitian know ahead of time and she will work with you to figure out a meal plan.
also… cameras must be disabled on cell phones, depending on what phone you have, you can just take the sd card out. if you can’t, then get a tracfone from walmart or something.
But, since no one has posted a review for Brandywine yet at all … this post is exclusive about BRANDYWINE HOSPITAL’S EATING DISORDER CENTER – the relatively ‘new’ (opened in August of 2010) EDU IN COATESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA . The program is actually housed in the medical hospital (Brandywine), but is kind of off to the side, in the mental health pavillion (which has a different entrance, but is also accessible directly by/to the main hospital), however there’s a hallway (with locked doors of course) that leads right into the main medical part of the hospital should any medical crises occur. You also always have access to the main hospital for any medical tests, labs, specialists etc. that Dr. P, the psychiatrist, might send you for or recommend you have consultations with … which was a nice change from Friends (which was an isolated, solely psychiatric facility, wherein you had to be sent out for anything medical). I found Brandywine to be very good at dealing with the medical side of things now that the program is based in the hospital … and the psychiatrist is knowledgeable when it comes to treating both the psychological and medical aspects of the disorder. When I had to be sent to the medical side of the hospital for a week to stabilize before coming onto the unit, he oversaw my care (and although I hated it), he basically saved my life and I really did receive outstanding care that clearly beat out anything I had received elsewhere.
Like I said, I’ve been to Friends multiple multiple times … and after my experience at Brandywine, looking back, I was really impressed with SOME of the changes made to the program, however some of the other changes – and some of the ways in which it got a lot stricter (in needless ways, such as limiting the amount of clothing [7 outfits] you can bring) I wasn’t too thrilled with and felt really brought the program down.
Overall though, I honestly kind of liked Friends better … maybe just because I was more comfortable there (perhaps because I had been there so many times) … but also for legitimate reasons. It felt a lot freer on the Friends Hospital campus, since you got to go to Hygea all day (9am-3/4pm) for groups, while at Brandywine you’re pretty much locked inside a …. hallway of a unit (with a gorgeous lounge though) all day besides for meals in the hospital’s cafeteria and four fresh air/smoke breaks (IF you eat 100%). Also, at Friends, you were given a lot more privileges in regard to use of your IPod all day, being able to have gum, cell phones with cameras, more of a campus to talk walks on, more free time on the weekends, more access to your bedroom, more smoke breaks … etc. But, like I said … Brandywine had a lot of benefits to offer since it’s in a medical facility. Also, the new program offers privileges that Friends couldn’t offer such as computer access all day, laptops, a wii … actually that’s about it. But, one definite highlight is that they’re (supposedly) trying to keep the unit smaller than how it was at Friends (Friends sometimes had 20+ patients there, but the Brandywine unit has only 12 beds I think … although right now somehow they’re opening up more beds on another unit for some reason- but that’s another story).
Brandywine has two other nice added benefits … Friends was kind of dirty and old and yuck, but Brandywine is nice and homey – Janet (the unit director) decorated the unit herself and picked out some gorgeous things to make it pretty comfortable … and also in regard to the nutritional piece of the program, unlike Friends … you get to pretty much pick the majority of your food at Brandywine! The unit is decorated with the intention for it to be pretty homey (it feels almost like a residential center when you’re in the bedrooms and lounge) – with comforters on the beds(you can no longer bring your own), decorative pillows, duvets, pretty non-ugly hospital pictures hung on the walls, cute bathmats, pretty tables in the bathrooms, pretty colored towels etc. … just nice little touches that make it feel not so institutional. They even instituted a “tea time” at 3pm with a selection of a variety of gourmet teas, cappuccinos, hot chocolates etc. with real tea cups and china and all that jazz. Sometimes Dr. Rita (one of the family therapists) will make all the patients coffee from the Keurig (a single-serve coffee machine- google it) when she’s in a good mood. They do special things like that … that they never really did at Friends.
Picking of the meals. It’s kind of a la Renfrew-style, if you’re familiar with that. You basically get a slip with your meal plan on it (maintenance, WR1, WR2, WR3, WR4) and it will have each exchange category and give you directions- fore example … ENTREE: circle 1: veggie burger patty of hamburger patty (or there’s always write-ins if you’re allergic/dislike the entrees/are veg and it’s all meat etc.) … circle 3 of the following STARCHES: 1 hamburger bun (counts as 2), 2 slices wheat bread (counts as 2), 1 cup pasta (counts as 2), 1/2c. mashed potatoes, 1 nutrigrain bar … circle 2 FRUITS: apple juice, cranberry juice, fresh fruit cup, fresh fruit (write-in banana, apple, orange, pear) … circle 2 FATS: butter, margarine, peanut butter (counts as 2), salad dressing (write-in italian, ranch, french) … circle 1 VEGETABLE: carrots, string beans, fresh salad greens …. circle 1 CHALLENGE FOOD/DESSERT: jello, chocolate cake, pudding, brownie, sherbet etcetcetc.
Okay … I’m going to start wrapping this up … really!
I think a lot of the problems within the Brandywine program is mostly due to the ummm…. ‘newness?’ of the program … and I think within a year or so from the initial opening (the unit opened on August 23rd, 2010), the program should be pretty much ironed out and running a lot smoother than it was (and how I describe it in my review) and perhaps a lot of the kinks that I had qualms about will be dealt with. I hear that the staff is already a lot better and there are more regulars, so things are running a lot smoother … and they’re even still in the process of hiring more staff etc.etc. to keep the patient:staff ratio low.
So, on to my review:
I was inpatient at Brandywine when it first opened, I was actually one of the first patients admitted, so some of what’s included in my review below might have changed … but I suspect (and have heard) that a lot of it is pretty much the same, or the same but a bit stricter.
So, I guess that’s it! Feel free to ask specific questions if you have any after reading it all … and I can either answer them myself or find the answers from friends that have recently been there/are there now
JUST A WARNING: The review is quite long … I’m pretty much just copying and pasting what I had written to a few people a bit ago and also posting some of their questions/my answers … so this ‘review’ may even take a few posts. I hope this all helps anyone that might be looking into the program!
……………………………………………………………………………….
WHEN WERE YOU THERE: End of August – End of October 2010
DESCRIBE THE AVERAGE DAY: (I don’t exactly remember, so this is just a rough outline … if you’re really interested, I can ask someone who remembers more clearly than I do) Weekdays, wake-up at 6 (weekends, wake-up at 7) … blind weights in a gown and orthostatic blood pressures/pulses and temperature … meds if you need them … shower and stuff (all room bathrooms/showers are unsupervised and unlocked until Breakfast) … Breakfast on the unit 8-8:45 (weekends 9-9:45), smoke break/fresh air break, group 9-9:45, group 10-10:45, group 11-11:45, lunch in the cafeteria 12-12:45, smoke break/fresh air break, group 1-2:30, break, tea-time/snack (if you have one) 3-3:15, group 3-3:45 (I think), group 4-4:45 (sometimes free-time), dinner in the cafeteria 5-5:45, smoke break/fresh air break, close observation (usually no group though) in the lounge 6-6:45 (but twice a week there’s a family group that meets during this time where the patients and family members – whoever comes – all meet together in the lounge for a pretty informal group), visiting hours/free-time/sharps (where you can get out things like your ipod/cell phone [if it doesn’t have a camera] etc.) 7-9, snack and wrap-up group in the lounge 9-9:30, night-time meds, hang-out and such, bathrooms unlocked and unsupervised after snack observation ends at 10:00, 10:15 smoke break/fresh air break, lights-out 11:00 week-days and 12:00 weekends
WHAT WERE MEALS LIKE: If you come in on weight gain, you’re pretty much automatically started off on “WR1 + 4 Ensure Pluses daily” … 1 with each meal and 1 at HS snack although sometimes if you’re particularly malnourished/underweight/whatever, Dr. P (the head psychiatrist) will put you on a lower plan, like maintenance or WR1+2 EP’s or something and work you up depending on how your body responds. The meal plans work off of exchanges … if you don’t know what counts for what, I’ll explain … but for WR1 the exchanges are for Breakfast: 3 carbs, 1 dairy, 2 or 3 fats, 2 proteins, 2 fruits, 0 veg … For Lunch and Dinner: 3 carbs, 1 dairy, 2 or 3 fats, 3 proteins, 1 fruit, 1 or 2 veg and you have to have a dessert/”challenge food” at one of the meals. Example of a challenge food: vanilla pudding, cake, nutrigrain bar, brownie, ice cream, sherbet, lemon ice etc.
You get to pick your meals more or less … you get a form where you circle your choices, it’s like proteins: 1/2c. egg beaters, 2 scrambled eggs, 1/2c. cottage cheese …. carbohydrates (circle 3): cheerios, 2 slices french toast (counts for 2), english muffin (counts for 2), rice krispies, whole wheat toast … fruits (circle 2): apple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, banana … lipids/fats (circle 2): peanut butter (counts for 2), margarine, butter … then for like lunch/dinner it’s the same sort of thing except you’ll have 2 entree choices like … spaghetti and meatballs or fruit and cottage cheese or something. It’s on a 2 week rotation … sometimes the dietitian (who’s awesome by the way! I love her and still e-mail her every week!) will let you write in things onto the menu if you don’t like something … oh and you’re allowed three dislikes, choose wisely! There’s a lot of pasta, potatoes, cheese, ummm rice … I don’t know … tell me the things you don’t like/are afraid of, and I can advise you on what to pick for your dislikes – there’s not a ton of variety with the entrees, so some things are a waste to choose as dislikes because you’ll just never get them. Oh, the only scary food you’ll really ever get is every other Monday you get one and a half slices (aka just a HUGE slice) of hospital pizza … it’s good but scary. Oh, and not sure if it’s scary for you but there’s also once every 2 weeks, a hamburger or maybe a cheeseburger (I don’t know, I’m a veggie and basically lived off of veggie burgers there) … other entrees included like fish of various preparations, meatloaf, manicotti, ravioli, mac and cheese, ummm pb&j, grilled cheese, turkey sandwiches, turkey of various preparations, that kind of things … it’s a heart hospital – so a lot of the food was very bland and not too exciting. the only veggies we really ever saw were carrots or string beans, occasionally there were others to choose from … but not often. booooring. but for a hospital, in general, the food was pretty good. oh and the ensure pluses were tacked onto every meal which sucked, but you could sub in 2 yogurts (regular yoplaits) instead of 1 ensure plus or you could bring boost plus if you prefer that or they had enlive (it’s like a juice-type supplement … but you had to do 5 a day instead of 4 ensures since they’re lower calorie) … also if your meal plan went up high enough, sometimes the RD would add in food snacks at 3:00 and 9:00 and sometimes even in the morning. Once I got past WR3, she added in cereal, yogurt, and a fruit at 3:00 and 3oz of cheese and 5 packs of saltines at 9:00 along with my 4 ensure pluses daily … so just a warning … oh and that’s with the meals getting bigger too – not portion wise, but like they would add on more carb exchanges and more fats and more fruits mostly.
WHAT SORTS OF FOODS WERE AVAILABLE OR SERVED? Oh I covered that above.
DID THE SUPPLEMENT? HOW DID THAT SYSTEM WORK? If you can’t finish 100% of your meal, you can “shortfall” … basically do another ensure plus (on top of the ensure plus prescribed at that meal if you have it) to make up for what you can’t finish … if you leave a significant amount, sometimes they’ll make you do two. It’s usually not calorically equivalent (meaning you’ll end up drinking more) but it’s a way to get privileges back if you just can’t get it all down. If you don’t do 100% of your meal, you lose all your privileges (smoking, using the computer, using your cell phone etc.) until the next meal where you have the opportunity to gain them back by completing 100%.
WHAT PRIVILEGES WERE ALLOWED? They have computers on the unit and you can bring your laptop … but you can only use them if you do 100% at your meals … you can also bring and use your cell (only if it has no camera – if you’ll be staying long, I suggest you get one of those cheapo phones from Walmart that you prepay minutes on or find an old phone that you can switch your number to temporarily as there’s only one hall phone and it’s a pain to wait in line for it) … again you need to do 100% to take out your cell. If you have visitors on the weekends you can get a grounds pass, which means that during visiting hours you can leave the unit and wander the hospital grounds (but not leave them!) … you have to do 85% at the previous meal and be doing pretty well overall to get one and go on it … ummm smoking you have to do 100% at the meal to smoke after it … some people come in and get ordered to be in a wheelchair, so I guess getting out of that is a privilege? But that doesn’t happen often! So don’t worry – it’s only if your vitals are reallllly off. They don’t do bed rest either, so don’t worry about that. Ummm, there’s no real privs aside from those.
DOES IT WORK ON A LEVEL SYSTEM? Not really
WHAT SORTS OF GROUPS DO THEY HAVE? Art therapy, family group, therapist group, pilates, music therapy, mmmm nutrition, I don’t know – they just name the groups by therapist and you kind of learn what types of group each therapist runs … psycho-education groups. Oh and then there’s wrap-up group at night run by the nurse, a pharmacy group run by the weekend nurse, and a community meeting type thing run by like everyone once a week (sometimes) … some of this could have changed as they were like redoing the program when I was there – I was one of the first patients admitted to the program as it had just opened (well it moved from Friends where I had been in it several times) and they were constantly revamping the rules and that sort of thing … but everything I’m telling you in here is as up to date as I know from people who have been there after me.
On the weekends … Saturday is one loooong art group, from like 10am to 2 or 3pm with a few breaks in between with a woman named Maureen and you do a few different art therapy assignments, then like a fun art project, then sometimes a relaxation/meditation type thing to end the groups for the day. On Sunday, it rotates as to which therapist comes in to run groups … so it really rotates on what kind of groups you’ll have – ranging from fun and light-hearted, to art, to a lot of free-time, to serious and insightful, to down-right boring.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE GROUP? Groups run by Dr. R (the family therapist, but she ran just psychotherapy-type groups) and Ol (the RD)
WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST? Dr. Rita and Ollie …. and I really like Dr. P (the psychiatrist of the program) – he’s really gentle and caring, I’ve been working with him for a number of years and I can tell you that he’s really dedicated to his job. He’s literally saved my life on a few occasions (this past August including) … he put me on the medical side first and although I hated it, wrote orders for restraints and tube feeding and IV’s and all that to stabilize me pretty quickly before I could come over to the EDU. But without him the worst probably would have happened, so looking back I really am thankful. He really does go above and beyond what’s needed for the job and takes a true interest in his patients. Same with Dr. R and O, I have both of their cell phone numbers at home and have talked to them since I’ve been out and they extend themselves as supports to me when I’m struggling even when I’m not in the program. When I am inpatient with them they also go above and beyond and really care and show that they can be trusted to lean on while I’m there. Both are hilarious and have hearts of gold … like I can’t say enough about them. three staff members are like THE reason that I followed the program to Brandywine. My parents really trust them with my life and I’ve been inpatient with this same combo of people maybe six times or more? I don’t know … I can just tell you that they’re awesome and hilarious and amazing people.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE LEAST? The stupid rules. seriously. One of the rules is like you can’t have more than 7 outfits. They were like on a major power trip. They only let me have 1 hoodie and 1 pair of PJ’s until I snuck out more clothes from my suitcase in the closet one night when a nice staff member was working. It was freeeeeezing there and you weren’t allowed to bring your own comforter and the one that they provide isn’t that thick and you can only get extra hospital blankets which well suck. I hate how fast the weight gain process is (sorry for numbers) but I gained nearly 40 pounds in the time I was there … they didn’t put me over my ideal, but it was fast and looked funny because of how quickly it was done. I hated how they forced my body to gain and put me on such a high meal plan even though it was only a matter of like 10 more lbs that it had to go when I stopped gaining … the psychiatrist holds every patient to a different standard, he’s a good guy, don’t get me wrong … but if he knows that you’ve been at this a long time – he won’t let you get away with discharging at 90%, he’ll make you get alll the way to 100%. I also didn’t like some of the staff members – … then some of the nurses just didn’t get eating disorders and when I was literally out of my gourd and malnourished and didn’t know what I was doing (trying to pull my PEG tube out), they held me down trying to restrain me and said some of the meanest things that I’ve ever encountered in an EDU and really just didn’t treat me with any respect at all …. then also I heard that this tech named has started to pull trays if you use rituals or will just tell you that you’ve lost all your privs for the day without redirecting you which I think is just not fair. This tech just makes up her own rules as she goes – like you used to only have to crack the door open when you peed, now you have to count AND crack the door when you pee during the day. Little rules like that just irritated me. Okay sorry, that was long and probably turned you off of the program completely. It’s not ALL bad.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM? It’s good for stabilization and it’s nice that they’re in a medical hospital so they can do any tests you need on-site.
WHAT LEVEL OF ACTIVITY WAS ALLOWED? Like nothing. Some walks around the hospital grounds. Oh and Pilates which was nice … as long as you weren’t ordered to a wheelchair.
WHAT DID PEOPLE DO ON WEEKENDS? We had groups until like 3pm … then visiting hours 3-5pm …. if you don’t have visitors, then your room is open and you can take a nap or read or do whatever … it’s pretty structured though.
DO YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR WEIGHT? You can know every day if you want, you just have to ask Dr. P and he’ll tell you.
HOW FAST IS THE WEIGHT GAIN PROCESS? At LEAST 2lbs a week … more like 3-5lbs … I was there 2.5 months and averaged like 3.5lbs a week … a bit more – like 3.8lbs I guess.
WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY? They say it’s 2-3wks, but I’ve seen much more and much less … a few days to 5 months. I guess I’d say 3wks was average.
WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE AGE RANGE? Youngest they take is 13 or 14 I forget. So there to like 60′s. Usually a lot in their 20′s then a few older and a few younger.
WHAT KIND OF AFTERCARE DO THEY PROVIDE? DO THEY HELP YOU SET UP AN OUTPATIENT TREATMENT TEAM? Dr. P has an IOP program in Marlton, NJ … but if you don’t live near there they’ll set you up with a team or PHP/IOP program.
HOW MANY INPATIENT BEDS? HOW MANY PATIENTS IN PHP OR IOP? 12 IP beds … no PHP or IOP
When were you there: Sept. 2012, May 2012, July/Aug. 2011
Having been to Brandywine three times, I can definitely offer some advice or answers to questions about the program.
Hiya, could someone do a recent review of the program? I might become inpatient in December/January and have to take out a lot of loans too 🙁
Any warnings or how effective (or not) the program was would really help. Also, do they also do NG tube or PEG tubes and when?
Thank you loads!
When were you there: Now (August 23th 2012)
How many patients on average?
14-20
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined.
yes, and combined
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
med dr, once unless needed, psychiatrist, daily, therapist 3 times a week, nutritionist 2 times a week
What is the staff ratio to patients?
roughly 1:4
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc?
Not sure
Describe the average day:
6 Wake up/vitals/weights
8 Breakfast
9 Observation
9:30 Group
10:30 Snack if needed
11 Group
12 Lunch
1 observation
1:30 Group
2:30 Break
3-430 Group
4:30 Vitals/Break
5 Dinner
6 Observation
6:30 Group (tu,th Family group)
7:30 Visiting
8:30 Snack
9 Observation
10 Bed
What were meals like?
No more than 3 per table, you eat in the cafe in a seperate section (It was nice to get to leave the unit) About 3 Staff sat in and corrected behaviors
What sorts of food were available or served?
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes, if you are on a high weight gain plan or if you dont finish your meals
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
Ensure than tube
Are you able to be a vegetarian?
yes
What privelages are allowed?
smoking, computers, outside, one hour with electronics but you have to eat 100% to do these.
Does it work on a level system?
No.
How do you earn privelages?
Eating 100%
What sort of groups do they have?
Its more like they couslors teach groups based off what they know well so its always a suprise lol
What was your favorite group?
Not sure yet
What did you like the most?
Computer priviliges and the homey feeling
What did you like the least?
Rooms are locked all day
Would you recommend this program?
Yes, if you WANT to get better and wont try to hide things
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Very little
What did people do on weekends?
I havnt had a weekend here yet
Do you get to know your weight?
How fast is the weight gain process?
2-2.5 lb per week
What was the average length of stay?
1-4 weeks
What was the average age range?
15-30
How do visits/phone calls work?
Visiting I explained already, there is one pay phone (free) and there also an hour when you can check out your phone (you have to bring a phhone with no camera)
Are you able to go out on passes?
No
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?
They wont discharge you without a plan
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
Yes
BRATTLEBORO RETREAT
When were you there: April-May 2005 5 weeks
How many patients on average? Does it treat both males and females?
I was on the adolescent unit which is coed up to age 18. Single and double bedrooms, locked unit. There were only two people including myself there with EDs. We both were female, high school age, and had single rooms near the nurses station. There were less than 20 kids on the unit. Usually it was full.
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
The medical doctor and psychiatrist did rounds five days a week. Therapist would come see you on the unit several times a week individually and also do family therapy once a week. If there was a nutritionist they were just a hospital nutritionist and you only saw them upon admission. Brattleboro was not residential eating disorder care. Brattleboro was an inpatient psychiatric hospital program. From Brattleboro patients were referred for more appropriate treatment. For me, Brattleboro was my second inpatient experience and the first inpatient experience where the hospital knew I had an eating disorder. It was where they worked with my family to decide upon a longer course of treatment elsewhere (ie residential eating disorder in Klarman and Castlewood). It was stabilization for depression, self-injury and early recovery from drug addiction.
What is the staff ratio to patients?
I really am not sure. They had enough staff to do 1:1s as needed.
What were meals like?
When you are on trays, the trays are on the table when you get there. The meals range from quiet to loud to boring. If another patient is having an outburst at breakfast you will eat in your room with a staff. The number of people on trays varies a lot because people are coming in and out of the program a lot since its short-term stabilization and crisis situations and for non-ED patients they tend to get off trays and go to the cafeteria faster unless they are behaving in ways that are deemed unsafe to go off unit/have less supervision in cafeteria. The cafeteria is bigger. It has lots of small/medium tables. Everyone from the adolescent unit who goes to the cafeteria will sit in the same area. They will use several tables, but you are not allowed to go sit wherever you want or sit alone. You can’t go sit with a person from another unit. ED patients sit near staff and get their plates checked.
What sorts of food were available or served?
You start on trays on the unit for all meals. You don’t get to pick any of the food at first. Then you get help filling out menus. Late in the stay you go with the rest of the unit to the hospital cafeteria and pick your food. A staff has to approve what you pick and check that you take what you need. If there is a certain food you would like that the hospital doesn’t have a visitor can bring it in and they can keep it in the unit kitchen for you and you can talk to the doctor about incorporating it into your meal plan.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes, they use Resource. They have strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate.
What is the policy of not complying with meals? You get supplemented with Resource and sometimes its warm.
Are you able to be a vegetarian? Yes.
What privelages are allowed? You can checkout your iPod, and apply for passes.
Does it work on a level system? No.
What sort of groups do they have? CBT, art, medication education, psychoeducation, communication skills, goals, wrap-up, community meeting, I don’t remember the rest
What was your favorite group? None really
What did you like the most? The passes that challenged me to see if I was ready to get discharged, family therapy, 1:1
What did you like the least? The groups
Would you recommend this program?
I would recommend it over other inpatient psychiatric units in the NH/VT area for a stabilization program if you need help staying safe while finding somewhere to work longer term on core issues.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Rec group went off the unit went to the gym on the hospital campus to play basketball/soccer/kickball/wiffleball/frisbee/capture the flag. They also went outside for walks in the woods. One day there was a bouncy castle for an outside activity. One of the techs told me they had taken inpatients ice skating on the lake behind the hospital before. They also had tennis courts and a pool but they were run down and not in use when I was there.
ED patients had different protocol than the others about exercise. I was able to go outside some while I was there. It was not until late in my stay that I could take the stairs with a staff member. When I got there and for most of the time they would take me outside (once they knew I would not run) in a wheelchair. Once I got off wheelchair, then I could walk with staff but had to use the elevator. In the later part of my time there I was able to go on the walk in the woods a couple of times. I also got to go in the bouncy house. ED patients weren’t allowed to go to Rec in the gym with the rest of the kids. Softball and Frisbee it depended on the nurse and they wouldn’t really let you play but maybe pass the ball or Frisbee a few times while standing still.
What did people do on weekends?
Nap. Watch PG movies. Play cards. Play the guitar. Draw. Read. Play board games. Have fewer groups. Have visitors. Make phone calls. Write letters. Do worksheets or journals from the unit’s collection of workbooks on depression, anxiety, self-esteem, addiction,etc. Go to NA meeting or AA meeting. Work on Adolescent Chemical Dependency step workbook steps 1-3 and talk about it with staff.
Do you get to know your weight?
Depending on the nurse
How fast is the weight gain process?
about 2 lbs per week
What was the average length of stay?
3 days-8 weeks
What was the average age range?
12-18
How do visits/phone calls work?
Visits are planned with and approved by your team. They can be on the unit, on the grounds, or off the grounds. The visitor must be approved by the team. Phone calls- they have unit phones that you can use. You need a phone card. You can only call a list of approved people that you discuss with you team. If you want to add another person, tell the team and they will ask who they are and why you would like to talk to them, if its important to treatment,etc.
Are you able to go out on passes?
Not in the beginning and certainly not if you are there are for short stay like a week or less. After my family visited me on the unit and I had been there for more than two weeks I was allowed an on grounds pass. For an on grounds pass your family can visit you and you may leave the unit for an amount of time (2 hours). My family and I had a picnic lunch. My second pass my dad took me to the local Walmart. The last pass I had before I was discharged was a 6 hour pass with my family to go to the mall. It was very hard. They said if I could make it 6 hours with my family in a mall essentially that I was ready to stepdown to PHP.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?
Brattleboro Retreat has PHP with onsite housing for men and women 18 and older. Unfortunately, I lived a bit away from this program, so I opted to do the PHP program by my home instead (a poor decision). The goal of aftercare planning which was done between me, my therapist/family therapist and my family was to find and get me into residential treatment while I was in the hospital program. I did attend residential shortly after partial. I don’t think I would have been “ready” for residential if I hadn’t gone to the hospital. The hospital didn’t do anything special and they didn’t help me deal with my core issues of why I have an ED (that was residential). What they did was keep me safe from hurting myself, keep me sober, and interrupt ED symptoms so I could hold out for residential while I felt dead inside. I know people know what I am talking about, a low point in my life when I didn’t think I or it was worth living.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
They offer financial assistance. They take Vermont Medicaid as well as Medicare. I am not sure what other forms of insurance they take. Like I said, unless you’re from Vermont or New Hampshire, I wouldn’t come from out of state or out of the country unless there is no psychiatric inpatient program that is decent and treats you compassionately where you live and you are suicidal.
I’m going here tomorrow and I’m soooo scared! Advice? Not thrilled about this at all.
good luck