Robert Wood Johnson’s Eating Disorder program is located at RWJ University Hospital Somerset in New Jersey. They treat adults and adolescents aged 14+, and offer the following levels of care:
- Inpatient treatment (Somerset EDU): 14-bed inpatient unit that offers psychological, medical, nursing and nutritional care in a highly structured environment. Individuals determined appropriate for inpatient care will be admitted on the day of the evaluation and are encouraged to bring belongings from home to make themselves more comfortable.
- Partial hospitalization. A five day a week program, with five hours of staff directed programming per day.
- Intensive outpatient. Up to three days a week, with three hours of staff directed programming per day.
- Weekly support groups for patients, as well as a support group for family and friends.
Any current reviews or updated information? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
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FULL REVIEW OF INPATIENT ADOLESCENT UNIT
When were you there? November – March 2024/2025
What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)? Inpatient
If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible? yes
How many patients are there on average? when I first came in 3-4, after a while the average was 7-9
What genders does it treat? adults and adolescents are separated but all genders are combined
If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people? yes
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, nurse, etc? doctor when you first come in & as needed, psychiatrist 1x a day, therapist 2-3x a week, dietitian 2x a week, nurse everyday as needed.
What is the staff-to-patient ratio? 2 nurses always, 1-2 MHA’s, 4 dietitians & 3 therapists (weekdays), 1 dietitian & 1 therapist (weekend)
What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, EMDR, ACT, exposure therapy, somatic experiencing, etc.)? DBT, CBT, OT, music therapy & recreational therapy
Describe the average day:
– 5:30 vitals & weighting
– 7:15 wake up/ hygiene
– 7:45 breakfast
– 8:30 medications
– 8:45 – 10:30 school (sometimes it starts at 9:25)
– 11:00 snack
– 11:25 nutrition group
– 12:30 (vitals after)
– 2:00 psychotherapy
– 3:00 DBT/OT or music therapy
– 4:00 snack
– 4:45 nursing group
– 5:30 dinner (vitals after)
– 7:30 – 8:30 visitations / showers
– 9:00 snack
– 11:00 lights out / 12:00 on weekends
What were meals like? You have 40min for meals & 15min for snacks. Every Monday & Wednesday is meal planning group you can choose between 2 options for every meal & if you don’t like neither of them you have 6 alternatives (2x breakfast, 2x lunch, 2x dinner) for every week, alternatives are foods like, sandwiches, burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, tilapia & stir fry’s. You pick your own snacks. The amount depends on the meal plan you’re on. There was always one nurse or MHA sitting and watching us.
What sorts of food were available or served? Waffles, pancakes, french toast, toast, bagels, english muffins, scrambled eggs, bacon ,turkey sausage, oatmeal, sandwiches, burger, mac & cheese, samosas, falafel fritters, chicken marsala, chana marsala, dal makhani, palak paneer, cheese ravioli, penne marinara, pizza, potato wedges, grilled cheese, chicken/ tofu stir fry, bbq tofu, caesar/ lemon sage/ herb chicken, salisbury steak, beef pot roast, salmon, pb&j, …
Did they supplement? How did that system work? you were allowed to supplement with ensures to be counted as completed, after your first week you had to complete without supplements, supplements could be added as an add on (Ensure, Ensure Plus or Magic Cup)
What is the policy of not complying with meals? You were not allowed to go on walks / you remained on fall risk & if you keep in completing they’d start considering the tube.
Are you able to eat vegetarian? Vegan? Vegetarian yes, if it’s not because of your eating disorder. Vegan? No.
What privileges are allowed? You were allowed to go on walks, if you’re on phase 2.
Does it work on a level system? Yes, there’s phase 1 and phase 2
How do you earn privileges? By completing, following the rules & participating in groups
What sort of groups do they have? Nursing group, therapy groups and nutrition group
What was your favorite group? Nutrition group. Sometimes we made snacks like chocolate covered strawberries,pretzels & mug cakes, ..
What did you like the most? The staff (nurses,mha’s, therapists & dietitians), they truly made my stay there more enjoyable.
What did you like the least? The weekends, there wasn’t much going on.
Would you recommend this program? Definitely
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? You weren’t allowed to exercise, but if you were on phase 2, you were allowed to go on walks. Every 4 weeks there was also a movement therapist coming, we mostly did stretching with her.
What did people do on weekends? There’s not much going on on the weekends, so we were mostly sleeping or watching TV.
Do you get to know your weight? Nope
If applicable: How fast is the weight gain process? It depends, everybody is different but they start you off on the lowest meal plan, and depending on your body’s needs they keep increasing.
What was the average length of stay? I’d say 50-60 days. I was there for 95, but I’ve also seen people leave after 14 days.
What was the average age range? mostly 14 & 17 year olds
How do visits/phone calls work? You were allowed to call whenever there’s no group, you get a phone list that has to get approved by your parents if you’re an adolescent. Phone calls are supposed to be 10 minutes but they only care if there’s a waiting line for the phone. Visits are everyday from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. They do exceptions on holidays like thanksgiving & christmas. You’re only allowed to get 2 visitors a day, one at a time.
What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)? No electronics allowed. You only get your school laptop or tablet during school time under supervision, to do school work. Adults are not allowed to get them.
For adolescents: Did they provide time to do schoolwork or offer academic support? They do school there, but the teacher is useless. The only thing she does is walk around to make sure you’re working & reach out to your school, but she is not really able to help you out with your school work.
For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go on outings/passes? No
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? Before you get discharged, your treatment team sets you up with an aftercare plan whether it is PHP, or in some cases residential. They have a PHP downstairs, but if that one is too far, they’ll look for a PHP closer to you & reach out.
Other? The staff is very friendly as long as you treat them with respect. My experience there was overall good, the staff there really cares about you, and is there if you need support. I got close to the nurses, therapists, patients, dietitians & mha’s. I’d definitely recommend this place.
* When were you there? october 2022 and april 2023
* What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)? inpatient
* If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible? yes
* How many patients are there on average? the first time there was only 2 adults and second there was about 8 in and out
* Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined? now adults and kids are separate but genders are combined yes
* If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people? yes
* How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? honestly i barely saw my therapist. i only saw a therapist 2 times in the week i was there. psychiatrist was everyday for a couple minutes. nutritionist i also only saw once in the whole week.
* What is the staff-to-patient ratio? about even
* What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)? we had groups labeled as dbt but they weren’t really dbt lmao. very unorganized.
Describe the average day:
* What were meals like? it’s different now than it was in october. now the adults and kids are in separate units. we go into the dining room and find our name and sit in front of our tray. i believe we had 45 minutes to complete and in the first 7 days u are allowed an en live that would count as complete. after every meal we state “complete” or “incomplete” followed by the amount of fluids we drank.
* What sorts of food were available or served? they had a lot of different options and honestly they were pretty good for hospital food.
* Did they supplement? How did that system work? within the first week they offer enlive.
* What is the policy of not complying with meals? they didn’t pressure. i got tubed after *** of not completing tho.
* Are you able to eat vegetarian? yes
* What privileges are allowed? you can go on walks if u level up but that’s about it.
* Does it work on a level system? they do phases.
* How do you earn privileges? completing meals and going to groups
* What sort of groups do they have? i didn’t find the groups helpful at all
* What was your favorite group? none lol
* What did you like the most? the night nurses were very nice
* What did you like the least? honestly the whole program.
* Would you recommend this program? definitely not unless it’s an only option. they only focus on the eating part and weight gain. they don’t help with mental health at all. i would be having panic attacks and hyperventilating and no one would come to check on me. it wasn’t good.
* What level of activity or exercise was allowed? there was a movement group, but we were seated the whole time. you also got 1 walk if you were phase 2.
* What did people do on weekends?
art tv groups. very very boring
* Do you get to know your weight? nope
* How fast is the weight gain process? depends on meal plan and goal
* What was the average length of stay? a couple people would discharge themselves. when i was there the longest someone was there was 6 weeks
* What was the average age range? all ages from 18-70+ in adult unit
* How do visits/phone calls work? u ask the staff to dial and they transfer to pay phone. u can make as many phone calls as u want. they say 10 minutes but they don’t really pressure u unless someone is waiting for the phone. visits are every other night from 7:30-8:30 in the group room
* What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)? no electronics
* For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go out on passes? nope
* For PHP/IOP: What support do they provide outside of programming hours? not sure
* What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? i left ama both times
* Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? probably
* If applicable: How is the program responding to COVID? (Less patients, virtual programming, no visitors, masks, social distancing, etc) the mask rules are less now. once and a while they tell us to pull it up but no one listens
• When were you there? August-September, 2022
• What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)? Inpatient. PHP is only for people who are local. I came from out of state
• If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible? Yes, there were multiple people in wheelchairs while I was there. If you fall, or faint, they make you use a wheelchair for a while
• How many patients are there on average? The program can hold up to 10 patients at a time, but I never saw it full or even near full. The highest it was when I was there was 7 patients, then that dropped to 6, which dropped to four, went back up to five, after my discharge, there would only have been four patients left, so anywhere from 4-7 based on my stay there, but they do have 10 beds, and are currently under construction to add 10 more beds to make it a total of 20 beds (half would be adults and half would be adolescents), the construction is supposed to finish in October-November, so by October, there may be 20 beds. However, everyone kept saying the construction was running late, and that it wasn’t going to be done until January, 2023, so it may not be until the new year that it will be 20 beds, but as of now it is 10 beds max, typically only 4-7 patients at a time though, based on the census during my stay
• Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined? Yes, it treats both males and females. Treatment is combined
• If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people? Yes, they do! There was a trans man there, and his pronouns were respected, and everyone treated him with respect!
• How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? Medical doctor- your first day, and then as needed. One of the benefits of this program is that it is in a medical hospital, so if you have chronic illnesses or serious medical illnesses whether they’re ED related or not, you can see a specialist for your illness as much as you need too. There was one woman with me who saw a specialist multiple times a day for a serious non ED related illness that she has, so you can see medical doctors as much as you need too for illness. I have multiple chronic illnesses that are non ED related, and I think I saw medical doctors maybe about 8 times while I was there. You see a psychiatrist every single day! The psychiatrist for the ED unit is very good! I really liked him! You see a therapist for 30 minutes every weekday Mon-Fri, and you see a weekend therapist (who’s not your regular therapist) for 10-15 minutes Sat and Sun, though I think they were talking about increasing the weekly therapy sessions to an hour Mon-Fri, and to 30 minutes Sat and Sun. As well as all the groups which were all half an hour while I was there. They were talking about increasing all of the groups to an hour as well. Though, I don’t know if those changes are actually happening. It was all just talk when I left. You see a dietician every single day either for menu planning, nutrition group, to play games or watch movies with the dietician, or to actually meet with them and talk about your ED, but in one form or another, you will meet with the dietician every single day, even weekends, and if you have a concern, you can always bring it up with your dietician, even if he (the main dietician is a male, though his assistant is a woman, but most people have the male dietician) even if he’s just doing a movie group or playing silly games with us, if you have questions or concerns, you can always bring it up with him or the female dietician, because you will see at least one of them every day. One note on the therapists and dietitians: If you are uncomfortable with a male dietician or male therapist, or male psychiatrist, or male medical doctor too for that matter, and you want an all female treatment team, make that request very very very very very clear to them ahead of time. If you are not comfortable going to a program where you have a male dietician or male therapist, let them know you can not go to their program, if they can’t accommodate a female therapist and female dietician for you, because I have really really really severe Complex PTSD stemming mostly from sexual trauma from men, and I thought I made it really clear that I needed an all female treatment team, but when I got there, I had a male therapist, and male dietician, which caused me to completely fall apart, and was transferred to the general psych unit for 2 weeks, because of how badly I fell apart. However, when I came back to the eating disorder unit, they did go out of their way to get me a female therapist and a female dietician. I requested a female psychiatrist, and they never did that though, but the male psychiatrist they have is actually really good, and I really liked him, so that wasn’t a big deal. Just if you need an all female treatment team, or a female dietician, or a female therapist, make that above and beyond clear to them before you go to the program.
• What is the staff-to-patient ratio? It’s always 1 Mental Health Associate (though there’s supposed to be 2, but they’re always get pulled to other units), and 2 nurses, sometimes only 1 nurse and 1 MHA per 4-7, but theoretically up to 10 patients. I don’t know what they’re going to do when the construction is finished, and they have 20 patients, because they are almost always very short staffed. Lots of the time the secretary isn’t even there
• What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)? DBT, CBT, Art therapy, Music therapy, Nutrition group, School for the adolescents, Psychotherapy group (basically a support group where everyone talks about whatever’s on their minds), Movie Group, MHA (Mental Health Associate- basically a psych tech) group- mostly playing games, sometimes do meditations, listen to music, do word searches, play Wordle or other word games, meditation groups, groups where we play word games or just play games or watch movies are common. Other than DBT and Psychotherapy group I didn’t find any of the groups actually very therapeutic or really helpful at all, most of them were just listening to music, watching movies, or playing word games, or other types of games, or filling out generic worksheets on ED’s. Maybe it’s just because I’ve had an ED for 19 years, and I’ve had a lot of treatment for it, so the groups felt like stuff I already knew to me. I think the groups would only be helpful for someone who’s never been in a HLOC before, and only has had minimal outpatient treatment, and is new to ED’s, and not that educated on them yet. I did love psychotherapy group though!!! And we had one Health At Every Size Group, which I loved, because I love that concept of HAES!! And in general, I’d say the program is HAES! Not everyone there was underweight, and two patients were overweight with Atypical Anorexia. They have a specialized ARFID program supposedly, and I think they’re good with ARFID, Anorexia, and Atypical Anorexia, but I’m not so sure how good of a program this would be for someone with Bulimia or BED. Because the main focus of the program is eating more, and bathrooms are supposed to be supervised, but often aren’t, so it’s very easy to get away with behaviors
• Describe the average day: They changed the schedule literally the day I left, so the schedule I know is no longer accurate, but I will try my best to type what I think the new schedule is based on what they were saying:5am wake up, vitals, get weighed, shower (you are only allowed to shower for 10 minutes every other day, and you must use a shower chair, and a nurse is in the bathroom with you for the entire duration of the shower while you are on phase 1, when you get to phase 2, you can shower without the shower chair and without the nurse watching you. However, you still can only shower every other day for only 10 minutes. Your first day, you are not allowed to shower at all), go back to bed
7;45-8;25 Breakfast, get meds afterwards if you have morning meds
9-10 Adolescents do schoolwork while adults have psychotherapy group
10-11 Adolescents have psychotherapy group while adults have free time
11-11;15 snack
There might be a group in here- either art therapy, music therapy, or nutrition group
12-12;40 Lunch
Afternoon groups until snack at 4. The groups would be either art therapy, music therapy, or nutrition group, or DBT
4-4:15 snack
5-5:40 Dinner
Most days 6-7 MHA (psych tech) group, which is just doing games usually, or filling out worksheets, sometimes doing a meditation, or positive affirmations, or listening to music. Some days 6-8pm is movie group, where we vote on a movie we watch. It overlaps some with visiting hours though.
7:30-8:30 Visiting hours. You are only allowed one visitor every other day, and only one person. On the days it’s your turn to do visiting hours, you can FaceTime visit with someone or multiple people if you want, but only if you are not getting an in person visitor that day
9:30-9:45 Snack
10-10:30 get nighttime meds if you have them, lights out by 10:30
This is the closest approximation I can think of off the top of my head to the new schedule I was told about, which is completely different from the schedule I had. The new schedule started the day I was discharged, and I was discharged early in the morning, so I didn’t get to experience the new schedule. But that is the closest approximation I can do to the new schedule, which started 9/14/22, so any reviews you read that were written before 9/14/22 have incorrect schedules, so I’d ignore all schedules in previous reviews, because this schedule started literally yesterday 9/14/22 and older reviews probably don’t know about the construction that’s being done to add 10 more beds to the unit to make it a 20 bed unit (possibly will be finished by October, but maybe as late as Jan 2023- they’re not sure)
• What were meals like? Adolescents at one table. Adults at another. Meals are supervised by an MHA. You often play “the item game” during meals, or just talk. Everyone is very close and friendly. It feels like eating with your friends
• What sorts of food were available or served? Hospital food. I personally thought it was very bad though. I have been inpatient for ED at two other hospitals, and both of them had way better hospital food. Robert Wood Johnson probably has the worst hospital food I’ve ever eaten. I honestly think it made my ED worse, because the food was just so bad
• Did they supplement? How did that system work? You are allowed to supplement with an Ensure Enlive for not completing, but only for your first 7 days there. After that, they expect you to compete your meal on your own without supplements, if you cannot complete your meal on your own without supplements after 7 days, I’m not sure what they’d do. Maybe they’d work with you on it? Maybe the dietician would give you more free reign so you could choose food you like more and are more willing to eat? If it was bad enough, maybe they’d let you supplement. I do know though that if you’re really struggling really severely like going x days on end without eating anything at all, or just barely eating for an extended period of time, they will tube you.
• What is the policy of not complying with meals? See above. If it gets bad enough, they will tube you. If you refuse to be tubed, you will be kicked out of the program. And even once you’ve been tubed, if you’re still just not eating, they will eventually kick you out of the program, even if you have a tube. Also, if you’re not eating, they will sometimes make you eat in the day room with a MHA or nurse sitting with you, just the two of you, separate from everyone else
• Are you able to eat vegetarian? No
• What privileges are allowed? There are two phases. I mentioned the different between phase 1 showers and phase 2 showers above. The other differences are phase 2 don’t have to have their urine measured, but their bathrooms are still supposed to be checked. The only other different is phase 2 are allowed a brief walk outside every day weather permitting, you have to be wearing sneakers though. All phase 1 are on fall risk. You get off fall risk when you get on phase 2. Also, if someone actually does fall, or faint, they will make them go in a wheelchair for a very long while, before letting them out. I think they make people who fell stay in wheelchairs too long once they’re obviously fine, but they still keep them in the wheelchair past what seems necessary or helpful, and I think it can be harmful to one’s mental health to be forced to be in a wheel chair when you are better, and no longer at risk for falling or fainting
• Does it work on a level system? See above (phase 1 and phase 2). Some previous reviews mentioned a phase 3, but I never even heard of a phase 3, so either no one ever actually attains it, or most likely it probably just doesn’t exist anymore
• How do you earn privileges? Adolescents have to get up to 90% IBW, Adults 85% IBW, be completing meals for a while, not acting on behaviors, not fainting or falling, not needing to be on fall risk, not having mental breakdowns, no SI or SH, being emotionally stable, not crying all the time, being well adjusted to the program and doing well will get you moved to phase 2
• What sort of groups do they have? I answered this question under “what sort of therapies are used?” I mis read the question, and thought it was asking about what types of groups there are, but if you scroll up to “what sort of therapies are used?” my answer to this question is there! To answer “what sort of therapies are used?” Just basic talk therapy. They might implement some CBT or DBT, but not really. It’s very very minimalist basic talk therapy. No ERP. No EMDR. No trauma work. I told them my main problem was very severe Complex PTSD, and that my ED is secondary to the trauma, and they repeatedly told me that they don’t even touch trauma in their program. They do zero trauma work.
• What was your favorite group? Psychotherapy Group. It was the only group that actually felt somewhat therapeutic
• What did you like the most? That unlike most inpatient ED programs, you are allowed to go in your bedroom and nap or do whatever you want in your bedroom absolutely whenever you want, except during groups or meals
• What did you like the least? I have very severe Complex PTSD, and my ED is secondary to my trauma. I went to inpatient hoping to work mostly on my trauma, and they flat out refused to do so, as well as initially gave me a male dietician and a male therapist despite knowing I have serious trauma with men, and it took me completely falling apart, and having to be transferred to a general psych unit to get them to switch me to a female therapist and a female dietician. I was told I would be switched to a female psychiatrist as well, but that never happened. I still had a male psychiatrist when I was discharged. They just had zero experience with trauma, and made it very very clear to me that they don’t treat trauma, and were going to refuse to treat mine. Also, I’ve had traumatic experiences in past inpatient programs, and being there reminded me of those experiences, so it was traumatizing to be in the program in and of itself, and they just didn’t seem to get that, and were not very helpful about that either. Also, I have Autism, and the environment was not an Autism friendly environment. They tried to make accommodations for my Autism, in an attempt to make it a more Autism friendly environment, but their attempts were useless, and it didn’t help. All of that stuff with my trauma issues and Autism is why I signed myself out AMA.
• Would you recommend this program? To anyone who doesn’t have PTSD or any Trauma issues and isn’t on the Autism Spectrum, yes! I think it is an amazing program, just not for people with trauma or who are on the spectrum. People with trauma or who are on the spectrum should stay away, but I think it is an amazing program for everyone else!!!
• What level of activity or exercise was allowed? Short walks outdoors once you reached phase 2
• What did people do on weekends? There were a couple groups, mostly nap, journal, color, read, make phone calls to family or friends, usually just watch a lot of tv and movies, and listen to a lot of music
• Do you get to know your weight? No
• How fast is the weight gain process? I don’t know
• What was the average length of stay? 2-4 months
• What was the average age range? it was 14-72 when i was there
• How do visits/phone calls work? You can make phone calls whenever you want as long as its not during group or meals. Phone calls are only 10 minutes per call. I explained visits above
• What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)? zero electronics.
• For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go out on passes? no, phase 2 can leave the hospital for short walks around the hospital though
• For PHP/IOP: What support do they provide outside of programming hours? I was in inpatient, so I don’t know
• What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? They do, but didn’t for me, since I signed myself out AMA
• Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? Yes, I came from out of state, and had to take an Amtrak home, but the nearest Amtrak station from the hospital was an hour away, so Robert Wood Johnson paid for me to take an uber to the train station, which I really really appreciate, because I couldn’t have gotten home otherwise, so thanks so much for that RWJ!!!!
• If applicable: How is the program responding to COVID? (Less patients, virtual programming, no visitors, masks, social distancing, etc.) Everyone wears masks, except when in your bedroom or bathroom, people only get one visitor every other day, or do facetime visitation every other day
• Other? I do think they meant well, and they really really did try to help me. They really really did go above and beyond to try to accommodate all the struggles I was having. They just didn’t have the capability to accommodate all the special needs I have with my Autism, Complex PTSD, etc. They just aren’t equipped to deal with Autism or trauma, and that’s not their fault. They tried really hard to help me. I know they did their best
Would you recommend this program vs nypre? Average length of stay? Not looking to stay somewhere long just get to where I need to be so I can go to php already was in residential 2 months + before they just basically said I needed a hloc due to not being able to assist with weight gain and thrown out essentially with no aftercare. Not looking to be retraumatized by a program looking to admit next week
Any recent reviews?
Has anyone been here recently? I have a few questions
Anyone has been here recently willing to do updates review or answer some questions
I’m admitting to RJW Somerset on Tuesday (to start php until there’s an inpatient bed available). I’m going here no matter what, i have no other options at this point, but i was hoping someone could give an updated overview/review, specifically for inpatient but also for php if possible
It sounds like this program was better 7 years ago compared to today. Does anyone have a 2022/2023 review please?
Any recent, end of 2022 and 2023, updates on this program?
Has anyone been here very recently? What is it like from 12/2022-present?
Why do they not take younger than 14. It is horrible. I can’t get my daughter into a hospital based residential and that is what she needs. Princeton will not take my insurance. Why would there be an age if you have the disorder they should want to help.
I just AMA’ed from Robert Wood Johnson ED Inpatient this morning. I’ll try to do a review when I’m up to it. Maybe tomorrow
* When were you there? august 2022, but only stayed for 4 days
* What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)? inpatient
* If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible? yes
* How many patients are there on average? there was 8 when i was there, but i think the most is 10 (not entirely sure though)
* Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined? yes, combined even though adults aren’t supposed to talk to the adolescents. the only thing that isn’t combined is psychotherapy and what table we sit at the dining room
* If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people? yes
* How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? you see a medical doctor as needed, psychiatrist every day (even on weekends), therapist every day (with a chance for a 15 minute session on saturday and sunday with whatever therapist was working that weekend), nutritionist i’m not sure but i think once or twice a week.
* What is the staff-to-patient ratio? i have no idea how to answer this lol
* What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)? honestly, i don’t know. i didn’t stay long enough to know.
Describe the average day:
* What were meals like? we sat in a (small) dining room. adults at one table and adolescents at another. the staff picked where you sat. breakfast they would read the rules and you would make a goal for the day. at the end of every meal they would call on you and you’d have to say if you completed or didn’t, how much fluid you drank and any saves you had. sometimes they’d ask how the meal was. they also played music occasionally or we would just talk or play a game.
* What sorts of food were available or served? hospital food. eggs, oatmeal, pancakes, french toast, cereal, mac and cheese, falafel fritters, egg salad, chicken salad, sandwiches (pb&j or ones with meat) chicken tenders, tofu stir fry, hummus burrito, bbq tofu, cheese pizza, grilled cheese (i think you could add meat to it), they had some indian dishes, mashed potatoes, potato wedges, rice, etc. they did have quite a bit of options.
* Did they supplement? How did that system work? they “offered” (they usually didn’t) you a supplement (ensure enlive) your first week – 2 if you didn’t eat much & 1 if you ate at least half. after the first week, you can’t supplement at all.
* What is the policy of not complying with meals? they encouraged “doing your best” and not forcing yourself. i heard that they do tube though or make behavioral contracts.
* Are you able to eat vegetarian? yes
* What privileges are allowed? not many. you come in on fall risk. if you’re stable and doing good the move you to “phase 2” and you can go on a walk in the afternoon.
* Does it work on a level system? they do phases.
* How do you earn privileges? completing/being stable
* What sort of groups do they have? didn’t stay long enough to really see but while i was there we did nutrition every day (one of the days was meal planning), movement, art, nurse’s group (we did crosswords), and psychotherapy.
* What was your favorite group? movement
* What did you like the most? hm, i had a cool roommate
* What did you like the least? everything. this is just my personal experience but it felt more like a psych hospital than anything. i also hated that you could only shower every other day (it really made my ocd go crazy). the staff was pretty iffy too. a lot of them seemed stuck up and just not friendly. there were some good ones though.
* Would you recommend this program? no, unless you don’t have anywhere else to go.
* What level of activity or exercise was allowed? there was a movement group, but we were seated the whole time. you also got 1 walk if you were phase 2.
* What did people do on weekends? groups or just color, read, watch tv, etc.
* Do you get to know your weight? i’m not sure. i didn’t know mine.
* How fast is the weight gain process? i’m not sure.
* What was the average length of stay? i think like 2 weeks, some longer though.
* What was the average age range? when i was there the range was 14-50?
* How do visits/phone calls work? you have to ask staff to call the number for you and then they transfer it to a pay phone. you get 10 minutes but you can make multiple calls throughout the day.
* What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)? no electronics at all.
* For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go out on passes? no
* For PHP/IOP: What support do they provide outside of programming hours? they have a php program but i don’t know anything about it.
* What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? i assume so, but i left ama.
* Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? i’m not sure.
* If applicable: How is the program responding to COVID? (Less patients, virtual programming, no visitors, masks, social distancing, etc) you had to wear a mask at all times, except for meals or if you’re in your room. some staff would occasionally just put it under their chin though.
* When were you there? august 2022, but only stayed for 4 days
* What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)? inpatient
* If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible? yes
* How many patients are there on average? there was 8 when i was there, but i think the most is 10 (not entirely sure though)
* Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined? yes, combined
* If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people? yes
* How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? you see a medical doctor as needed, psychiatrist every day (even on weekends), therapist every day (with a chance for a 15 minute session on saturday and sunday with whatever therapist was working that weekend), nutritionist i’m not sure but i think once or twice a week.
* What is the staff-to-patient ratio? i have no idea how to answer this lol
* What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)? honestly, i don’t know. i didn’t stay long enough to know.
Describe the average day:
* What were meals like? we sat in a (small) dining room. adults at one table and adolescents at another. the staff picked where you sat. breakfast they would read the rules and you would make a goal for the day. at the end of every meal they would call on you and you’d have to say if you completed or didn’t, how much fluid you drank and any saves you had. sometimes they’d ask how the meal was. they also played music occasionally or we would just talk or play a game.
* What sorts of food were available or served? hospital food. eggs, oatmeal, pancakes, french toast, cereal, mac and cheese, falafel fritters, egg salad, chicken salad, sandwiches (pb&j or ones with meat) chicken tenders, tofu stir fry, hummus burrito, bbq tofu, cheese pizza, grilled cheese (i think you could add meat to it), they had some indian dishes, mashed potatoes, potato wedges, rice, etc. they did have quite a bit of options.
* Did they supplement? How did that system work? they “offered” (they usually didn’t) you a supplement (ensure enlive) your first week – 2 if you didn’t eat much & 1 if you ate at least half. after the first week, you can’t supplement at all.
* What is the policy of not complying with meals? they encouraged “doing your best” and not forcing yourself. i heard that they do tube though or make behavioral contracts.
* Are you able to eat vegetarian? yes
* What privileges are allowed? not many. you come in on fall risk. if you’re stable and doing good the move you to “phase 2” and you can go on a walk in the afternoon.
* Does it work on a level system? they do phases.
* How do you earn privileges? completing/being stable
* What sort of groups do they have? didn’t stay long enough to really see but while i was there we did nutrition every day (one of the days was meal planning), movement, art, nurse’s group (we did crosswords), and psychotherapy.
* What was your favorite group? movement
* What did you like the most? hm, i had a cool roommate
* What did you like the least? everything. this is just my personal experience but it felt more like a psych hospital than anything. i also hated that you could only shower every other day (it really made my ocd go crazy). the staff was pretty iffy too. a lot of them seemed stuck up and just not friendly. there were some good ones though.
* Would you recommend this program? no, unless you don’t have anywhere else to go.
* What level of activity or exercise was allowed? there was a movement group, but we were seated the whole time. you also got 1 walk if you were phase 2.
* What did people do on weekends? groups or just color, read, watch tv, etc.
* Do you get to know your weight? i’m not sure. i didn’t know mine.
* How fast is the weight gain process? i’m not sure.
* What was the average length of stay? i think like 2 weeks, some longer though.
* What was the average age range? when i was there the range was 14-50?
* How do visits/phone calls work? you have to ask staff to call the number for you and then they transfer it to a pay phone. you get 10 minutes but you can make multiple calls throughout the day.
* What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)? no electronics at all.
* For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go out on passes? no
* For PHP/IOP: What support do they provide outside of programming hours? they have a php program but i don’t know anything about it.
* What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? i assume so, but i left ama.
* Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? i’m not sure.
* If applicable: How is the program responding to COVID? (Less patients, virtual programming, no visitors, masks, social distancing, etc) you had to wear a mask at all times, except for meals or if you’re in your room. some staff would occasionally just put it under their chin though.
Does anyone have a recent review?
Have an appointment on Thursday and was hoping someone has been here fairly recently that could do a review or just a quick rundown of the program?
Has anyone been here recently?
Has anyone been here recently (within the last 2-3 years)? Can you give an update about what the program is like? I know not everyone has time to write a full review, so any information at all that you can share would be helpful!
Robert Wood Johnson Somerset’s inpatient unit currently has a 6-8 week waiting list, but (at their inpatients doctors’ discretion) they are able to make exceptions for a patient already on a med unit somewhere who is needing transfer to inpatient eating disorder treatment, even if they are out-of-state.
Any recent reviews????
At what weight percentage do they allow discharge from IP. I am only needing short-term stabilization to get to another program I am interested in.
Great program ! I had L*****(edited for names) who was the best therapist I have ever had . They care about the patients. It was a hard process but helped me with my recovery process
do they tube? I have gastroparesis and severe anxiety and often I need a tube when I come in for a week before I can start eating after getting my meds straightened out.
I have been to a few different places to treat my ED and this was by far the WORST. Actually, it was probably the worst experience of my life. My psychiatrist was arrogant, condescending, and really not easy to talk to. He was very invalidating and would talk over me and ignore my reasonable complaints (when I said I didn’t like that the only fat option was mayonnaise and butter, he said that was just my eating disorder talking and when I was upset that added butter to something without asking and made it taste bad he said that he had been treating eating disorders for X number of years and he knew better than me <– he treats all EDs like they're the same and he saw me as an ID bracelet, not a person). He also blamed everything on other people and bad mouthed other treatment programs which I found very offensive. My therapist got easily angry and when I told her I didn't know the cause of my eating disorder, she told me she couldn't help me until I figured out the cause and when I told her I didn't know what I needed to talk about and find it easier in therapy when people ask me questions, she said it's not her job to know what kind of questions to ask. The groups were few and far between and there was very little conversation in them. I found the therapeutic environment highly unsupportive.
As far as nutrition goes, the food tasted terrible (with a side of styrofoam). There were limited options on the "menu" and nothing could be adjusted (ex. If you need 1 more protein to complete your exchanges for that day, you couldn't just add 1 protein, because nothing on the menu was just a protein, they were all a protein and a fat or something, so it was hard to plan).
Also, you only had 3 meals. There was time allotted for snacks, but you had to save stuff from breakfast and you were only allowed to save 2 things. So I was actually hungry sometimes, but couldn't have anything, and my eating patterns got all messed up because at the place I was before, I had 3 meals and 3 snacks.
My "favorite" part of the day was school because they brought in really great tutors who knew their stuff and were actually nice.
Meals were really uncomfortable because someone sits at the end of the table with a clipboard staring at you and taking notes on you as you eat and the table was really cliquey. There weren't assigned seats, but one time I sat in another girl's "spot" and she started crying and yelling at me.
It was nice that we could be in our room at any time, but every hour they would come around and if you weren't in the group room at that very moment, they would tell your therapist you were being antisocial and you would get points off (you needed a certain number of points to get to use technology.
The best thing I took away from that experience was how much I actually wanted to recover from my eating disorder so I would never have to be in a place like that again. My parents made me stick it out a little while, but after talking to my psychiatrist and therapist on the phone, and realizing how narcissistic and unsupportive they were, my parents discharged me against medical advice and brought me to Walden, which no doubt saved my life. I would highly, highly recommend Walden (in Waltham, MA).
Level of Care: inpatient, PHP, IOP
When you were there: March 2015- May 2015 (All levels of care)
Average day: Inpatient- early morning wake up for vitals and weighing, either back to sleep or showering, breakfast, free time/school for those under 18, group psychotherapy, snack/free time, group, lunch, group, free time, group, snack/free time, dinner, group, visiting hours, showers/bed
PHP/IOP (IOP is a max 3 days a week, leaves after lunch)- weighing, group psychotherapy, snack, group, lunch, meal processing, group, group
What were meals like?
Decent. The hospital prepared our food for every meal and did carefully measure everything out. The food was usually pretty good. Cake day and dessert day each happened once a week.
What sorts of foods were available?
Each meal there were two entrees, and then there was an add on menu with entrees, sides, desserts, etc that you could always put on your menu. Things like stir fries, grilled cheese, veggies, soups, salads, deli sandwiches, pizza, meat dishes, etc. Pasta dishes were usually a daily menu thing, not add on.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes. Ensure, boost, and ensure puddings were available. Once you hit 1950 you were allowed to use a supplement and plan for one level down. As the plans increased, you could use more supplements to plan down more levels. When you got an increase you could use a supplement until you got to fill out new menus.
What privileges are allowed?
Everyone has access to phones in rooms, if you are phase 3 or phase 2 just b/c of fall risk, you get media time aka phone/laptop time at night. Phase 3 gets two 15-minute walks off unit. Phase 3 can apply for pass for the weekend, which can be 2/4 hour no meal, 5 hour 1 meal, or 7 hours 2 meals.
Does it work on a level system?
Yes- phase 1, 2, 3. Phase 1 is your first day or two as they get you assigned to therapist and dietitian and take all your history. Phase 2 is where you are until you are off fall risk, completing meals, etc. When you get enough points (participating, showering, not using rituals, completing, etc.), you are moved to phase 3.
What groups do they have?
Meal planning, nutrition, body image, assertiveness/relationships, mindfulness, spirituality, OT, art therapy, meal processing, social media, goals
What was your favorite group?
I really liked mindfulness and body image group.
What did you like the most?
A lot. I had a great therapist who I’m continuing to see outpatient, and the support from staff and peers was astounding.
What did you like the least?
On the days when the team didn’t have rounds (Thursdays and Mondays?), it seemed like there was a lack of communication.
Would you recommend?
YES. This place changed my life.
What level of activity was allowed?
Walks off unit, once PHP/IOP exercise privileges were given as treatment team saw fit- 3 days a week, 30-minutes at a time.
What do people do on weekends?
If not on pass, chill, extended visiting hours, a couple groups. On pass- mall nearby, go home, whatever you have planned.
Do you get to know your weight?
I never did and don’t know of anyone who did. I know they tell you if your weight does things it shouldn’t be- dropping, showing signs of water retention (bc purging), or if you are close to/reaching a goal weight.
How fast is the weight gain process?
Dependent on patient, not sure.
Average stay?
Inpatient for anorexia- honestly depends on insurance and weight gain. Bulimia 7-10 days. PHP- a few weeks, IOP another few weeks.
Average age range?
All over but a few high schoolers going to late 30s I guess. Mostly 20s. A couple younger kids like 12ish.
How many people?
IP can have 14, PHP/IOP is dependent on the day as IOP chooses what 3 days to come but anywhere from 4-12.
Aftercare?
They help you set up an OP treatment team. Can’t be discharged until you have appt with dietitian and therapist. They ask that you email/call with an update and keep in touch.
Can someone Please give a full recent review???
Recent review?! Not accepted to princeton sooo this is my next shot
looking for more recent review or any insight really into somerset! thank you!
When were you there: Oh jeez. December 2011, July 2012, December 2012
How many patients on average? The unit holds 14, but there were usually open beds.
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined. Both, yes, and treatment is combined. Boys cannot be in girls’ bedrooms, but girls can be in boys’ bedrooms. That always confused me.
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? You see your psychiatrist and therapist daily, nutritionist three times a week, and medical doctors only as necessary. For example, I got a bad eye infection while there and they called in an optometrist. Medical doctors are rare, though.
What is the staff ratio to patients? There are usually three nurses on staff, so 3:8-10.
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc? There was CBT every morning and DBT once a week. Art therapy (which was absolutely terrible), occupational therapy, etc. were once or twice a week.
Describe the average day:
5:30-6: vitals and weights. They do vitals while you’re still in bed, which is nice.
6-8: back to sleep, shower, journal, whatever. Breakfast is supposed to be at 7:30 but it’s always late. Also, psychiatrists often see you at this time or (god forbid) during breakfast.
8-8:45: breakfast.
8:45-10: free time for adults, school for those in middle/high school.
10-11: psychotherapy. This is basically an open group to talk about anything in a group setting. Can get awful and awkward if no one talks.
11-11:30: snack, if you saved something from breakfast or the nutritionist added something.
11:30-12:30: nutrition group or meal planning. Why this is right before lunch, I never figured out.
12:30-1:45: lunch.
1:45-2:30: varied group. M-F, respectively: journaling (with Stephanie, who’s a nightmare), nursing ed, art therapy (with the absolute worst art therapist I’ve ever had), occupational therapy (Joan is awesome!), or recreation, which means sit in the multipurpose room and hang out.
2:30-3: free time.
3-4: M-F respectively. Relapse prevention, OT, relapse prevention, body image, meditation.
4-5:30: snack and free time. Again, snacks aren’t mandatory.
5:30-6:15: dinner.
6:30-7: goals, meal processing, or wrap up.
7-8:30: visiting hours, except on Wednesdays which was the mandatory multifamily group that sucked so hard everyone tried to get out of it.
8:30-9: free time.
9-9:30: snack.
9:30-11: free time.
11: lights out. They enforced this pretty strictly, and as I’ve always had trouble sleeping, it was obnoxious that I had to lay in bed all night instead of being allowed to read or knit or anything.
What were meals like? It varied on the mood of the group. If everyone was doing well, they could be upbeat and positive. Other times, they were hideously awful. Staff was sometimes hypervigilant and overbearing. They’re very strict about condiments being ordered with your meal plan (in advance), so if you forget, you’re SOL. Also, don’t make the mistake of getting up to microwave your food more than five minutes after the meal starts.
What sorts of food were available or served? Hospital food. The joke was that if we didn’t have eating disorders already, the food would give us eating issues. The milk was often spoiled, which was hideously disgusting. They’re flexible with vegetarian and kosher diets, but veganism isn’t allowed. You needed to have at least one hot meal a day, and they were strict about variety.
Did they supplement? How did that system work? Only if you were on a high meal plan or chose supplements instead of food (which was available at mid-level meal plans as well.) In my three stays, I only saw one patient on a feeding tube, and she was discharged for non-compliance.
What is the policy of not complying with meals? Here we go. If you incompleted a meal, you were placed down a level and had privileges taken away (walks, caffeinated coffee) for the next day. Incomplete four days in a row, and they threaten tubes. That rarely happened.
Are you able to be a vegetarian? Yes.
What privelages are allowed? “Walks,” which were really standing outside with staff members, if you made phase 3 (there over 48 hours, completing meals and complying with therapy). No cell phones (though a lot of us smuggled ours in), no laptops or iPods, no video games or anything of the sort.
Does it work on a level system? Phases. Phase 1 is for admission day, or tube feeding/bed rest. Phase 2 is restricted privileges, for non-completion or missing a group. (I once skipped art therapy because it was so useless and awful, and got bumped down to phase 2 for a day.) Also, you were on phase 2 until medically stable. Phase 3 was the highest level, and allowed passes on weekends and going on walks.
How do you earn privelages? Completing meals, complying with therapy, and gaining weight/medically stabilizing.
What sort of groups do they have? Detailed in the average day question, but the usefulness varied. Like I’ve been harping on, art therapy was awful, journaling was pointless, and a few others fit that category. Nutrition was good, though.
What was your favorite group? Occupational therapy, by far.
What did you like the most? I loved my nutritionist. Seriously, she was the best, and helped me more than anyone else on the team. The patients also got really close, and I made a ton of friends that I’m still in contact with today.
What did you like the least? I struck out with therapists, unfortunately. Didn’t click with any of them. Some of the nursing staff were rude and inattentive.
Would you recommend this program? Honestly? No. It didn’t help me, even after three stays.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? Zero. Walks were a supervised stand-around session.
What did people do on weekends? It could get really boring if you didn’t make pass. Lots of movies, longer visiting hours, but almost everyone went on pass.
Do you get to know your weight? If you asked, though the last time I was inpatient they wouldn’t tell me.
How fast is the weight gain process? 3lbs/week, ish.
What was the average length of stay? With the exception of one patient, I was never in with anyone who stayed longer than four weeks. Average was two or less.
What was the average age range? My last stay, it was 11-68. So, all over.
How do visits/phone calls work? Visitors can come every weeknight and for pretty long stretches on weekends. You have a private phone line in your room complete with a phone right out of 1981 that you can use, but cell phones are totally out of the question.
Are you able to go out on passes? If you’re phase 3. Also, if you lose any weight on a Saturday pass, you lose Sunday pass.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team? They really push their PHP/IOP program, which I hated because I live two hours away and the commute drained me. You can’t be discharged without an outpatient therapist, and most patients continue to see their inpatient psychiatrist on the outside.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? They’ll help you set up outpatient care. Like I said, I’m two hours away, so they dug deep to help me find a therapist in my area.
Other? The program really didn’t work for me. That doesn’t mean that it won’t work for anyone, but it didn’t help me long-term.
Hey, might be going IP here anyday now. What can and can’t I bring? I’m 17 and its my first time IP and I’m freaking out. I have no idea what to expect. Idk how long ill be here either. Does anyone know the mailing address to here and how often do you get letter? Sry for all the questions, just wanna know more. Feel free to add anything else. Thanks 🙂
thank you for the helpful info everyone 🙂
I was at Somerset 4 times in 6 months. I went in and out of php/ip for a few months before I was discharged completely and then came back ip twice for two weeks each time. Finally I was sent to residential treatment, and while I liked that program (Avalon Hills) MUCH better than SMC, I have to give SMC some credit…they kept me alive after all!
The program itself is…alright. It’s not fair to compare residential and inpatient hospital treatment centers. For what it is, SMC is a good program. That being said, MANY – if not, most – people I have known from that program ended up either going back to SMC several times and never truly recovering or having to go to different treatment centers (where many of them DO recover). While it’s arguable whether that is related to the quality of SMC, I just find it a little odd.
Just a word of warning, people used behaviors ALL the time. It is way too easy to hide food, purge, sneak laxatives in, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. My experience was that most of the people I was there with did not want to get better. There were those that did, but in almost every instance, they required residential treatment.
SMC is good at what they do – getting people medically stable. As for treating eating disorders (not just the behaviors themselves, but also the underlying issues, causes, or cocurring disorders) the program definitely leaves something to be desired.
Old Reviews (Pre-2012)
Describe the average day:
5:30 Vitals/weights
You can shower, read/journal/whatever in your room or go back to sleep until breakfast.
7:45 Breakfast Supposed to start earlier, but never does. I think you have 45 mins for a meal?
8:30-10 School if you’re in high school, free time if you’re not.
10-11: Psychotherapy. Ran by the docs or therapists. Can be painfully dull if there’s a low patient census/no one talks. Ultra annoying if the therapist is the type to cut you off for using forbidden words– any talk of behaviors/food ‘items’ in all but the most vague way will be shut down.
11-11:30 Snack [if you saved something from bkfst]
11:30-12:30 Meal planning or nutrition group
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:30 Group. Body image, recreation, self-expression, meditation, interpersonal [dbt-lite]
2:30-3 Break, can go outside for fresh air [but NOT a walk] if you’re on level 3 [vitals stable, there >48 hours, complying]
3-4 Group Sometimes art therapy, “spirituality”, that sorta thing.
4-4:30 Snack [if you saved something from bkfst/lunch, or if the nutritionist was so kind as to add something to your tray]
4:30-5:30 Break
5:30-6:15 Dinner
6:30-7 Meal processing or wrap up group
[Except once a week we had family group during visiting hours & it’s mandatory, whether your fam comes or not]
7-8:30 Visiting hours. [7-ish is also fresh air break #2]
8:30- showers open up
9-9:30 Snack. Can ask for up to three “extras” if you’re complete, or eat what you saved from earlier. Can have decaf tea/coffee if you’re complete.
10:30 Showers reopen
11:00 Lights out [except on Saturday & Sunday night]
Bathrooms are locked for two hours after meals, one hour after snack. It amounts to having about two seconds of free bathroom time right before snacks/meals, and then bathrooms are open from 10:30PM til like 3AM…. then relocked until after you get weighed.
What were meals like?: Could be painfully dull. They have games, you can ask to play them during the meals [like trivia type things] or do 20 questions. They let you play music during meals, TV during snacks. Really depends on the patients. The staff sits & watches which I hated [vs. other places where staff ate] and will tell you if you’re sitting wrong or something equally absurd. Also, they’ll keep tons of notes on meals, so if you’re social/not, talking not at all, talking too much etc etc…. you’ll hear about it in team mtg.
What sorts of food were available or served?: Basic hospital food. I liked that you were able to plan your own food based on total # of exchanges for the day so if you don’t want protein at bkfst you didn’t have to. Also more realistic bc i left eating foods I was okay [at least taste/preference wise] eating on my own.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?: If you’re over 1950 [i think] you’re allowed to have a supplement to drop you a calorie level. It’s a 250 calorie canned carnation instant bkfst, choc or vanilla. Or you can just use food– like cakes, pies, icecream, PB&grahams etc to add up the cals.
What privileges are allowed?: Not much!! Outside for fresh air 2x/day if you’re on level 3. You have a phone in your room [bring a phone card] and if you’re in school & get permission you can use the computer for that. BUT they will watch you like a hawk. Some ppl sneak in cell phones.
You can have an mp3 player/video games as long as they don’t have internet access.
Oh, therapeutic passes. You can apply for them once you’ve been there a week [usually– if it’s a super brief stay they’ll let you go on your first wknd] and get either 4 hours or 7 meals, either 0 meals [4 hours], 1 meal or 2 meals out.
They’re contingent on you either gaining a half a pound that day or not losing, unless you’re above a certain weight.
Does it work on a level system?: Yeah, level 3 = able to go outside…. and if you’re not on level three i don’t think you can go on passes.
What sort of groups do they have? Sometimes weekend groups were really good– some of the techs just asked us what would be useful…. music therapy, inspirational quote stuff, journaling, crafts…. psychotherapy, nutritional stuff [i hated that– lot’s of crossword puzzles/random trivia]
What was your favorite group? Sometimes psychotherapy was good…. some of the weekend/evening processing groups were helpful.
What did you like the most?: Very good patient/staff ratio, I got a lot of individual attn & support. ie: if I was having a horrid day, my therapist would let the night staff know what was going on so they’d check in on me etc. I liked having daily therapy sessions too.
What did you like the least?: Constantly being WATCHED. That the docs seemed very med happy.
Would you recommend this program?: Yes, it’s a good short term program.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?: Breathing, digesting, and ambulating from room to room very slowly hahaha. They almost took my stress ball bc that was considered exercise!
What did people do on weekends?: You do have a few groups– meal times stay the same, you have more visiting hours [friends/fam have to leave during snacks tho obv]. You can watch tv, talk to other patients, lots of crafts, nail painting…. you can nap a lot if you want.
Do you get to know your weight?: Yes, your doc will tell you if you want to know.
How fast is the weight gain process?: I’m sure it varies– i think the aim is 0.5 lbs a day?
Most people stay about 2 weeks, but be prepared to stay longer. If you come in close to 90% of your IBW, it may be shorter. If it’s less than 2 weeks, you get to go on passes on your first weekend which is nice.
The psychiatrists don’t take insurance– so even if the hospital is covered be prepared for a sizeable bill there if you don’t have good out of network coverage.
I felt their IP program was organized better than their PHP program, but that may have had to do with patient #s. I was on the unit when there weren’t very many other patients present, so things went pretty smoothly. When I did PHP, there were a ton of people.
I disliked the nutritionist there, and I didn’t like knowing my calorie level.
I liked that it was in a medical hospital, so when i had medical problems I felt like I was in good hands [most of the time].
Laptops, cell phones, cameras, and anything that can connect to the internet (like nintendo dsi) are not allowed. If you want to bring your cell, they will lock it up and you can take it out when you go out on passes on the weekend or when you’re discharged.
Regular razors are not allowed. If you want to shave, you can bring an electric razor. Most don’t bother.
Bring photos to decorate your room, but no glass frames are allowed. In fact, nothing with glass or mirrors are allowed at all. If you have makeup or nail polish in glass bottles or compacts with a mirror, they’ll be kept locked up behind the nurses station and you have to ask to use them and bring them right back. Same goes for scissors or tweezers.
Curling irons and flat irons aren’t allowed.
No gum or mints (just naming stuff that was commonly taken from my purse!)
No shorts, no sleeveless tees, no leggings. Skirts and dresses must reach the knee or lower. No clothing that has food or exercise slogans on it (depends on who checks your stuff in. some are more relaxed than others about this).
Bring: a comforter or blanket (makes it homier than the thin hospital blankets), your pillow unless you want to try the hospital pillows, comfy clothes like sweat pants or yoga pants and loose tops, pajamas, an ipod or mp3 player as long as they do not have internet access, journal, books, craft supplies, or anything else that you might want to do during some down time. Bring a prepaid phone card. You’ll need it to make any outgoing calls unless you are calling someone in Somerville. You have phones in your room as well as the pay phone, but it’s hard to receive calls sometimes because there are groups or you’re in session or you’re hanging out in the multipurpose room so you’ll want to be able to call out. And bring a little plastic basket or tote for your toiletries. There are two showers on the unit that all the patients share and you are not supposed to leave your stuff in there. You’ll want a way to carry your shampoo and soap, etc back and forth to the showers.
You can get mail as often as it arrives. They don’t read your letters or anything before you get them, but if you get packages, they’ll go through them with you to make sure there is no contraband.
The address is:
Your name
c/o EDU (1 West)
110 Rehill Ave
Somerville, NJ 08876
You can also have your friends send you a printed letter via email once you know your room number. Go to the SMC website, then click on Gifts and more … and select Send An Email. The only thing is, you won’t be able to respond by email and will have to send snail mail so bring stationery and stamps!
Just a word about food allergies and intolerances since that seems to be a FAQ for various programs.
While SMC will adhere to a verified specific food allergies like bananas (common in latex allergies) or peanuts (again, only if you have documented proof of a serious allergic reaction), they at times did not follow the dietary guidlines and food allergy recommendations set by their own gastroenterologist consult!! Case in point, gluten intolerance and possible celiac disease. The gastro doctor was consulted due to symptoms indicative of either of these conditions for a patient and prescribed a gluten/wheat free diet while also ordering further testing. On the EDU, however, the patient was not allowed to follow this diet. She was made to still have the bun with her burger, cereal that was not gluten free, breadcrumbs atop her fish, etc. Of course this would result in an exacerbation of symptoms, for which she would then be penalized for continued weight loss. This all despite the gastroenterologist consult which would take place on the unit, the notes written by the doctor in the patients chart, and the doctor ordered special diet.
Word to the wise since I see on the various threads that gluten intolerance is a concern of several posters.
I have also personally had issues regarding doctor ordered dietary recommendations not being adhered to by staff and “overruled” by the head psychiatrist. When I entered the program, I had frightening stroke level high blood pressure. This was a new problem for me and unexpected. I was provided with blood pressure medications that were not effective, but told to follow up with my primary care physician upon discharge. I did so (while in PHP) and she performed further tests and also sent me to a cardiologist for further care. Both my primary and cardiologist placed me on a sodium restricted diet. However, the EDU would not allow me to follow this, neither in their PHP nor upon a later admission to IP. The standard diet they provided contained triple the amount of sodium I was supposed to have for medical reasons. The only exception I was allowed to make was to be able to switch the standard bag of potato chips that are required to be eaten if one orders a sandwich (already laden in sodium) for another food item of equal exchanges. All other foods such as stir fries, chicken tenders, cheese, deli meats, sauces with capers, salad dressings, etc were required. I was not unwilling to eat the exchanges prescribed, but wanted to follow the medical guidelines ordered by my doctor and cardiologist to have lower sodium items so that maybe my condition could be managed and my head wouldn’t feel like it was going to explode.
Signed letters sent to my team from the doctors and their phone calls were ignored and unanswered. The hospital does have a low sodium diet of course, but they would not allow me to order from it. Upon discharge, I was able to reduce my sodium intake and my blood pressure levels decreased.
The EDU is very skilled in dealing with eating disorders. They of course are looking to squash any eating disordered thoughts and behaviors about food. I understand them wanting to be cautious and not believe every claim of intolerance without question because that can be a way to manipulate the system sometimes, but when there is documented evidence or when a medical specialist has ordered dietary changes, I think they should be respected. If you have special dietary needs beyond that of a standard eating disorder patient, be sure to take caution and truly discuss and question how SMC can accomodate your needs before entering the program.
If you do not complete your meals or supplements, you will automatically be put on Phase II which means you cannot have your two fresh air breaks a day. A single off day won’t have much more of an effect than that, but if you continue to not complete, the treatment team will decide what to do next. There is no standard protocol for everyone, it depends on the individual:
1. You may be put on bed rest.
2. A feeding tube may be placed (rarely done. usually reserved for cases in which the patient is very underweight or medically compromised and is physically unable to complete the calories required.)
3. You may be asked to leave the program for non-compliance. It can feel like you are being kicked out for struggling to eat which is what brought you to the hospital in the first place, but really it’s because it is a voluntary unit and they can’t force someone to eat and if the program is unsuccessful in helping you by their means, then the insurance company will consider the treatment to be a failure.
If you are medically unstable or if insurance does not feel you are well enough to simply be discharged, they will try to arrange for your transfer to another facility, residential program, or possibly an involuntary psych unit. If you are relatively stable but not compliant, you will be discharged to your outpatient treatment team.
They don’t give up quickly so please don’t think that if you fail to complete a day or two you’re going to get kicked out or something. There are many people that struggle especially at first, but they are not quick to tube and there is only so much they can do in a voluntary program.
Yes, you can do php without doing ip. And yes, lunch is the only meal eaten in the partial program. You are required to complete a certain number of exchanges depending on your meal plan. You may choose to eat all of the exchanges at lunch or break it up a little and have some at 11am snack. Snack items are fairly limited to such things as fruit, juice, milks, yogurt, cereal, graham crackers, and cottage cheese. If you are using supplements to help you complete your meal plan, you must have at least one while on the unit either at snack or lunch. Snacks are pretty relaxed actually. There are often too many patients to fit in the snack room so if you have something that does not require a table to eat, you can go in the group room to complete your food. You will need to show the diet tech your empty containers.
Lunches are monitored by a nurse or two. It is much more relaxed than in the IP setting but you are still expected to complete all of your given food items.
You arrive at 9:30 (earlier if you are a school aged patient so that you can work with the tutors). If it is your day to be weighed or if you are on daily weights, you are called by the dietary staff to change into a gown (and nothing else … no undies, no jewelry, no nothing) and step onto the scale for a blind weigh in.
10:00 group is the main psychotherapy group that will be facilitated by one of the therapists. It is a topic free group in which patients are encouraged to open up and talk about their current struggles.
11:00 is snack time. If you have snack, you must complete it at this time. If not, you can chill in the group room that you are in all day for partial.
11:30 once a week you have menu planning. the other 4 days are topic driven groups like interpersonal relationships group.
12:30 lunch time
1:30 if you are IOP you head home. if you are PHP you continue with afternoon groups. The afternoon groups are run by nursing staff or a therapist or a dietitian for nutrition group. The kind of groups include body image, weekend planning, goals group, occupational therapy (which mostly seemed to include games like Apples to Apples or drawing). So many groups seemed to blend into one another despite having different names. The same dreaded worksheets popped up time and again and after you’ve been there a couple of weeks, it was really repetitive.
2:30 the groups are run the same as 1:30 groups.
3:30 PHP patients leave.
You see your doctor once a week for a very quick check in. You see your therapist twice a week for 20 minutes if you are in PHP. If you are in IOP (attending 3 or fewer days and leave at 1:30 right after lunch) you see your therapist only once. You are supposed to see your dietitian once a week. You are called out of groups for these sessions.
Some general rules for partial include:
1. no cell phones! Lots of people use them on the sly, but if you’re caught with one, it will be held at the nurse’s desk for the remainder of the day.
2. no leaving the unit until program ends once you have signed in at 9:30. no fresh air breaks and no cigarettes.
3. you may not eat or drink anything other than what is provided to you for your lunch and snack. The only exception is you may bring in a clear plastic bottle containing water only.
4. dress code is pretty strictly enforced. all shirts must have sleeves and all skirts and shorts must touch the knee. if you don’t follow this rule, you will be made to wear a gown over your clothing for the day
The max number of inpatients they standardly have is 14. If absolutely necessary, I believe they can accomodate 15 by putting 3 patients in room 187.
There tends to be more adolescents than adults, but the patient ratio changes all the time.
Longer stays of 2 – 4 months are not typical these days at SMC since it is an acute inpatient program and not residential treatment. However, if it is deemed medically necessary and approved by insurance, it is not out of the question.
Laptops, cell phones, cameras, and even ipods and Nintendo DS games that have internet access are strictly forbidden. There are two computers on the unit that only patients who are in school students may use for school assignments only … and only with permission and supervision.
As far as partial – if you are in PHP (full day) you must arrive by 9:30 for morning weigh in (random days or possibly daily weights). Groups start at 10. If you arrive after 10, you are not permitted to enter group. If you are chronically late, you may be asked to leave the program. PHP people stay until the afternoon groups complete at 3:30.
When you are stepped down to IOP, you get to leave right after lunch at 1:30.
Now for the food. Yes, they are very strict about finishing meals and snacks on time. You are given 45 minutes to complete meals, 20 minutes for morning and afternoon snacks, and 30 minutes for 9:00pm snack. The time to the minute is written on the board and if you have not finished by that time, you are marked as incomplete. You are not given a supplement to make up for the percentage incomplete as some other programs do, but you are automatically marked down a phase. Being dropped a phase will mean that you are not permitted off the unit the next day for fresh air breaks outside or to go out on passes if it happens to fall on a weekend. Repeatedly not completing will be addressed by your treatment team so that they can offer more support and / or determine why it is difficult to comply.
There are also a ton of other mealtime guidelines that are meant to help break food rituals. Some of them don’t honestly make a lot of sense or seem a bit extreme, but they have been developed over the years in response to behaviors that patients have exhibited. Examples of the rules are:
No mixing of food (such as no stirring your broccoli into your cottage cheese). Exceptions includ a max of 2 items such as yogurt and 1 cereal, yogurt OR cottage cheese may have one fruit added (except apples and oranges), oatmeal with 1 syrup/honey (additional fruit, bananas or raisins are ok), NO honey or sugar in yogurt, no cream cheese on apples – PB only, you may combine potato, cheese, and vegetabl
Food may be cut into bite size pieces only. No super small pieces. Apples may be cut into fours only. Hard boiled eggs can only be cut in half.
No utensils allowed for sandwiches, bagels, bread, apples, pizza, and chicken fingers.
Microwave use is limited to 1 time for 25 seconds only (trust me, it’s hardly enough time to warm your food, but people used to nuke their food until it burned or exploded). Cold foods have to stay cold (no warming your milk) and hot foods must stay hot (no ice cubes allowed).
Patients are NOT allowed to exchange any food item at mealtimes. The only exception is if there is something truly wrong with your food – you got the wrong item or there is a bad spot on your apple.
No pouring food into other bowls or cups. Yogurt must be eaten from original container (if mixing with cereal, you have to pour a tiny bit of cereal in at a time, mix, eat, and repeat). Milk must be consumed from carton except if poured into cereal.
No blotting, no wiping food, no leaving dressing drips or condiment bits, no leaving any food in container, no spilling anything, no dunking, no over-cutting, no tearing, no tiny bites, no huge bites, no dropping food on floor, no over-stirring, no staring, no talk about food during mealtimes.
You can save up to 2 items from each meal for snack time. If you are on a mealplan of 2950 or more, you can save up to 3. BUT you can only have 2 saves on the save tray at a time (3 for 2950). Items must be unopened (except for milk) so no 1/2 bagels or anything and nothing that was a part of your entree.
That’s not even all the rules, but I think you get the idea.
Food examples – I’m taking it straight from the menus:
Breakfast items include a variety of fresh fruits (oranges, apples, bananas, melon, grapes, raisins), juices, blueberry muffins, rolls, bagels, english muffins, cold cereals, hot cereals, milks, condiments (PB, butter, jelly, cream cheese), yogurts, eggs, cottage cheese, pancakes, french toast.
Lunches and Dinners offer 1 – 2 main entrees such as BBQ chicken, Chicken Picatta, Baked Ziti, Cheese Quiche Platter with Fruit, Lightly Breaded Baked Fish. If you don’t like what they are offering as the main entrees, you can always order from the “add on menu” or get a sandwich. However, you are required to have 1 hot entree per day so you can’t get sandwiches for both lunch and dinner.
Menu add on entrees include Baked Chicken, Baked Fish, Baked Ziti w/o Meatballs (wed only), Cheeseburger, Chicken Fingers, Chicken Stir Fry, Egg Salad, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Cheese with Ham or Turkey, Ham or Roast Beef (to make a sandwich), Hamburger, Hot Dog, Macaroni & Cheese, Philly Cheese Steak, Pizza, Tofu Stir Fry, Turkey Burger, Veggie Stir Fry, Veggie Burger.
Starchy sides may include rice, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, baked potatoes, rolls, bread, bagels, and pasta. Vegetables are broccoli, carrots, spinach, green beans, and mixed veg occasionally. Fruits are the same as breakfast. Milks and yogurts are always available. Desserts include angel food cake, carrot cake, chocolate cake, fruit ice, ice cream, pound cake, cookies, sherbet, pudding, vanilla wafers, flan, raspberry danish, cheese danish, apple pie.
The meal plans are based on the exchange system so you will be given the number of exchanges you are required to eat by your dietitian. The number will vary throughout your stay as your meal plan is increased. You then get to pick what you’d like to eat for the next few days by completing your menus according to the required exchanges. Assistance is provided by the DTR if needed. If you can’t complete your menus on time though, the DTR will finish them for you and you are not guaranteed to get stuff you like.
There is no “do not admit” list. I was IP 7 times in less than 6 months there. I was only discharged “honorably” twice. The other times, I was either kicked out for non-compliance or I left, screaming and yelling, after fighting with Dr. D. I was the worst patient- there was some question as to whether or not I could safely stay on the EDU when I first got there, I had to get tubed, I triggered the other patients… I was just awful. However, I am now Dr. D’s private patient and I am probably (unfortunately) going to need to go back IP soon. Basically, if you are not willing to work you won’t be allowed back in, but if they sense there is even the slightest part of you that wants to get better, they will go to the moon and back for you.
I just can’t speak highly enough for the program. It saved my life.
Just a word about food allergies and intolerances since that seems to be a FAQ for various programs.
While SMC will adhere to a verified specific food allergies like bananas (common in latex allergies) or peanuts (again, only if you have documented proof of a serious allergic reaction), they at times did not follow the dietary guidlines and food allergy recommendations set by their own gastroenterologist consult!! Case in point, gluten intolerance and possible celiac disease. The gastro doctor was consulted due to symptoms indicative of either of these conditions for a patient and prescribed a gluten/wheat free diet while also ordering further testing. On the EDU, however, the patient was not allowed to follow this diet. She was made to still have the bun with her burger, cereal that was not gluten free, breadcrumbs atop her fish, etc. Of course this would result in an exacerbation of symptoms, for which she would then be penalized for continued weight loss. This all despite the gastroenterologist consult which would take place on the unit, the notes written by the doctor in the patients chart, and the doctor ordered special diet.
Word to the wise since I see on the various threads that gluten intolerance is a concern of several posters.
I have also personally had issues regarding doctor ordered dietary recommendations not being adhered to by staff and “overruled” by the head psychiatrist. When I entered the program, I had frightening stroke level high blood pressure. This was a new problem for me and unexpected. I was provided with blood pressure medications that were not effective, but told to follow up with my primary care physician upon discharge. I did so (while in PHP) and she performed further tests and also sent me to a cardiologist for further care. Both my primary and cardiologist placed me on a sodium restricted diet. However, the EDU would not allow me to follow this, neither in their PHP nor upon a later admission to IP. The standard diet they provided contained triple the amount of sodium I was supposed to have for medical reasons. The only exception I was allowed to make was to be able to switch the standard bag of potato chips that are required to be eaten if one orders a sandwich (already laden in sodium) for another food item of equal exchanges. All other foods such as stir fries, chicken tenders, cheese, deli meats, sauces with capers, salad dressings, etc were required. I was not unwilling to eat the exchanges prescribed, but wanted to follow the medical guidelines ordered by my doctor and cardiologist to have lower sodium items so that maybe my condition could be managed and my head wouldn’t feel like it was going to explode.
Signed letters sent to my team from the doctors and their phone calls were ignored and unanswered. The hospital does have a low sodium diet of course, but they would not allow me to order from it. Upon discharge, I was able to reduce my sodium intake and my blood pressure levels decreased.
The EDU is very skilled in dealing with eating disorders. They of course are looking to squash any eating disordered thoughts and behaviors about food. I understand them wanting to be cautious and not believe every claim of intolerance without question because that can be a way to manipulate the system sometimes, but when there is documented evidence or when a medical specialist has ordered dietary changes, I think they should be respected. If you have special dietary needs beyond that of a standard eating disorder patient, be sure to take caution and truly discuss and question how SMC can accomodate your needs before entering the program.
How do they handle ppl who do not complete meals or supplement?
can anyone elaborate more on the php program here? can you do php without doing the ip here? and in an above post, it says php patients arrive by 930, does that mean lunch is the only meal done during php? thanks
I’ve been to Friends, Brandywine, Somerset, Belmont, Renfrew and ermmmmm others.
Out of all of them, I liked the old Friends best, followed by Belmont. Brandywine is horribly strict in ways they don’t have to be and just is not the same as Friends … I didn’t like it at all. But you could have cells without cameras and your laptop as long as you ate 100% … but the meals are huge and you’re usually on 4 ensure pluses a day if on weight gain – 1 with each meal, and 1 for HS snack. They rarely do snacks … I was the only one on them once I got to WR3+ which is like the 3rd level of calories for the weight gain menu – I think I’ve seen someone on WR5 though. But yeah, even on WR1 (what most people start on for weight gain) is huge and a lot of times you never have to be increased from there. Also weight gain is FAST.
I think Dr. D at Somerset thinks he’s like some god of the EDU and loves to put people on his infamous do not admit list. The therapists leave a lot to be desired, but I did like going on passes and choosing my own food. I liked that they started your cals out low and worked you up too – it was easier, plus weight gain was at a slower pace.
Belmont I felt was a good mix of good clinicians and you got to somewhat choose your food (it was like an either or menu that you circled your choice from 2 or 3 items). It was also more lax with what you were allowed to bring. Weight gain was incredibly slow for the most part and they were very strict on not letting you out until you hit 85% (unless insurance pulled the plug).
I havent been to brandywine but in my experience friends was the last on my list
Sorry to keep asking but what about compared to Belmont or Brandywine (the old Friends)?
I am looking in this area but of course insurance limits me! ):
I’d say princeton
Has anyone been to both Princeton EDU and Somerset and could give a comparison? What about Renfrew Philly in comparison?
The max number of inpatients they standardly have is 14. If absolutely necessary, I believe they can accomodate 15 by putting 3 patients in room 187.
There tends to be more adolescents than adults, but the patient ratio changes all the time.
Longer stays of 2 – 4 months are not typical these days at SMC since it is an acute inpatient program and not residential treatment. However, if it is deemed medically necessary and approved by insurance, it is not out of the question.
Laptops, cell phones, cameras, and even ipods and Nintendo DS games that have internet access are strictly forbidden. There are two computers on the unit that only patients who are in school students may use for school assignments only … and only with permission and supervision.
As far as partial – if you are in PHP (full day) you must arrive by 9:30 for morning weigh in (random days or possibly daily weights). Groups start at 10. If you arrive after 10, you are not permitted to enter group. If you are chronically late, you may be asked to leave the program. PHP people stay until the afternoon groups complete at 3:30.
When you are stepped down to IOP, you get to leave right after lunch at 1:30.
Now for the food. Yes, they are very strict about finishing meals and snacks on time. You are given 45 minutes to complete meals, 20 minutes for morning and afternoon snacks, and 30 minutes for 9:00pm snack. The time to the minute is written on the board and if you have not finished by that time, you are marked as incomplete. You are not given a supplement to make up for the percentage incomplete as some other programs do, but you are automatically marked down a phase. Being dropped a phase will mean that you are not permitted off the unit the next day for fresh air breaks outside or to go out on passes if it happens to fall on a weekend. Repeatedly not completing will be addressed by your treatment team so that they can offer more support and / or determine why it is difficult to comply.
There are also a ton of other mealtime guidelines that are meant to help break food rituals. Some of them don’t honestly make a lot of sense or seem a bit extreme, but they have been developed over the years in response to behaviors that patients have exhibited. Examples of the rules are:
No mixing of food (such as no stirring your broccoli into your cottage cheese). Exceptions includ a max of 2 items such as yogurt and 1 cereal, yogurt OR cottage cheese may have one fruit added (except apples and oranges), oatmeal with 1 syrup/honey (additional fruit, bananas or raisins are ok), NO honey or sugar in yogurt, no cream cheese on apples – PB only, you may combine potato, cheese, and vegetabl
Food may be cut into bite size pieces only. No super small pieces. Apples may be cut into fours only. Hard boiled eggs can only be cut in half.
No utensils allowed for sandwiches, bagels, bread, apples, pizza, and chicken fingers.
Microwave use is limited to 1 time for 25 seconds only (trust me, it’s hardly enough time to warm your food, but people used to nuke their food until it burned or exploded). Cold foods have to stay cold (no warming your milk) and hot foods must stay hot (no ice cubes allowed).
Patients are NOT allowed to exchange any food item at mealtimes. The only exception is if there is something truly wrong with your food – you got the wrong item or there is a bad spot on your apple.
No pouring food into other bowls or cups. Yogurt must be eaten from original container (if mixing with cereal, you have to pour a tiny bit of cereal in at a time, mix, eat, and repeat). Milk must be consumed from carton except if poured into cereal.
No blotting, no wiping food, no leaving dressing drips or condiment bits, no leaving any food in container, no spilling anything, no dunking, no over-cutting, no tearing, no tiny bites, no huge bites, no dropping food on floor, no over-stirring, no staring, no talk about food during mealtimes.
You can save up to 2 items from each meal for snack time. If you are on a mealplan of 2950 or more, you can save up to 3. BUT you can only have 2 saves on the save tray at a time (3 for 2950). Items must be unopened (except for milk) so no 1/2 bagels or anything and nothing that was a part of your entree.
That’s not even all the rules, but I think you get the idea.
Food examples – I’m taking it straight from the menus:
Breakfast items include a variety of fresh fruits (oranges, apples, bananas, melon, grapes, raisins), juices, blueberry muffins, rolls, bagels, english muffins, cold cereals, hot cereals, milks, condiments (PB, butter, jelly, cream cheese), yogurts, eggs, cottage cheese, pancakes, french toast.
Lunches and Dinners offer 1 – 2 main entrees such as BBQ chicken, Chicken Picatta, Baked Ziti, Cheese Quiche Platter with Fruit, Lightly Breaded Baked Fish. If you don’t like what they are offering as the main entrees, you can always order from the “add on menu” or get a sandwich. However, you are required to have 1 hot entree per day so you can’t get sandwiches for both lunch and dinner.
Menu add on entrees include Baked Chicken, Baked Fish, Baked Ziti w/o Meatballs (wed only), Cheeseburger, Chicken Fingers, Chicken Stir Fry, Egg Salad, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Cheese with Ham or Turkey, Ham or Roast Beef (to make a sandwich), Hamburger, Hot Dog, Macaroni & Cheese, Philly Cheese Steak, Pizza, Tofu Stir Fry, Turkey Burger, Veggie Stir Fry, Veggie Burger.
Starchy sides may include rice, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, baked potatoes, rolls, bread, bagels, and pasta. Vegetables are broccoli, carrots, spinach, green beans, and mixed veg occasionally. Fruits are the same as breakfast. Milks and yogurts are always available. Desserts include angel food cake, carrot cake, chocolate cake, fruit ice, ice cream, pound cake, cookies, sherbet, pudding, vanilla wafers, flan, raspberry danish, cheese danish, apple pie.
The meal plans are based on the exchange system so you will be given the number of exchanges you are required to eat by your dietitian. The number will vary throughout your stay as your meal plan is increased. You then get to pick what you’d like to eat for the next few days by completing your menus according to the required exchanges. Assistance is provided by the DTR if needed. If you can’t complete your menus on time though, the DTR will finish them for you and you are not guaranteed to get stuff you like.
I’ve written a novel here, but let me know if you have any more questions.
Can anyone do a recent review of the IP unit? How many patients do they take at a time? Is there usually an equal mix of adolescents and adults? Is there anyone who ever stays for 2-4 months if needed to get up to 85-90% IBW? Are laptops/internet still not allowed? Are they very strict about finishing meals and snacks on time? Can you give some examples of their meals/the food?
And as for the partial program, how many hours a day is it?
Sorry for all of the questions, but I’d really appreciate it if anyone could answer any of them! Thank you so much.
since the psychiatrists don’t take insurance do they require you to put a deposit down before coming or do you get billed afterwards?
Describe the average day:
5:30 Vitals/weights
You can shower, read/journal/whatever in your room or go back to sleep until breakfast.
7:45 Breakfast Supposed to start earlier, but never does. I think you have 45 mins for a meal?
8:30-10 School if you’re in high school, free time if you’re not.
10-11: Psychotherapy. Ran by the docs or therapists. Can be painfully dull if there’s a low patient census/no one talks. Ultra annoying if the therapist is the type to cut you off for using forbidden words– any talk of behaviors/food ‘items’ in all but the most vague way will be shut down.
11-11:30 Snack [if you saved something from bkfst]
11:30-12:30 Meal planning or nutrition group
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:30 Group. Body image, recreation, self-expression, meditation, interpersonal [dbt-lite]
2:30-3 Break, can go outside for fresh air [but NOT a walk] if you’re on level 3 [vitals stable, there >48 hours, complying]
3-4 Group Sometimes art therapy, “spirituality”, that sorta thing.
4-4:30 Snack [if you saved something from bkfst/lunch, or if the nutritionist was so kind as to add something to your tray]
4:30-5:30 Break
5:30-6:15 Dinner
6:30-7 Meal processing or wrap up group
[Except once a week we had family group during visiting hours & it’s mandatory, whether your fam comes or not]
7-8:30 Visiting hours. [7-ish is also fresh air break #2]
8:30- showers open up
9-9:30 Snack. Can ask for up to three “extras” if you’re complete, or eat what you saved from earlier. Can have decaf tea/coffee if you’re complete.
10:30 Showers reopen
11:00 Lights out [except on Saturday & Sunday night]
Bathrooms are locked for two hours after meals, one hour after snack. It amounts to having about two seconds of free bathroom time right before snacks/meals, and then bathrooms are open from 10:30PM til like 3AM…. then relocked until after you get weighed.
What were meals like?: Could be painfully dull. They have games, you can ask to play them during the meals [like trivia type things] or do 20 questions. They let you play music during meals, TV during snacks. Really depends on the patients. The staff sits & watches which I hated [vs. other places where staff ate] and will tell you if you’re sitting wrong or something equally absurd. Also, they’ll keep tons of notes on meals, so if you’re social/not, talking not at all, talking too much etc etc…. you’ll hear about it in team mtg.
What sorts of food were available or served?: Basic hospital food. I liked that you were able to plan your own food based on total # of exchanges for the day so if you don’t want protein at bkfst you didn’t have to. Also more realistic bc i left eating foods I was okay [at least taste/preference wise] eating on my own.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?: If you’re over 1950 [i think] you’re allowed to have a supplement to drop you a calorie level. It’s a 250 calorie canned carnation instant bkfst, choc or vanilla. Or you can just use food– like cakes, pies, icecream, PB&grahams etc to add up the cals.
What privileges are allowed?: Not much!! Outside for fresh air 2x/day if you’re on level 3. You have a phone in your room [bring a phone card] and if you’re in school & get permission you can use the computer for that. BUT they will watch you like a hawk. Some ppl sneak in cell phones.
You can have an mp3 player/video games as long as they don’t have internet access.
Oh, therapeutic passes. You can apply for them once you’ve been there a week [usually– if it’s a super brief stay they’ll let you go on your first wknd] and get either 4 hours or 7 meals, either 0 meals [4 hours], 1 meal or 2 meals out.
They’re contingent on you either gaining a half a pound that day or not losing, unless you’re above a certain weight.
Does it work on a level system?: Yeah, level 3 = able to go outside…. and if you’re not on level three i don’t think you can go on passes.
What sort of groups do they have? Sometimes weekend groups were really good– some of the techs just asked us what would be useful…. music therapy, inspirational quote stuff, journaling, crafts…. psychotherapy, nutritional stuff [i hated that– lot’s of crossword puzzles/random trivia]
What was your favorite group? Sometimes psychotherapy was good…. some of the weekend/evening processing groups were helpful.
What did you like the most?: Very good patient/staff ratio, I got a lot of individual attn & support. ie: if I was having a horrid day, my therapist would let the night staff know what was going on so they’d check in on me etc. I liked having daily therapy sessions too.
What did you like the least?: Constantly being WATCHED. That the docs seemed very med happy.
Would you recommend this program?: Yes, it’s a good short term program.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?: Breathing, digesting, and ambulating from room to room very slowly hahaha. They almost took my stress ball bc that was considered exercise!
What did people do on weekends?: You do have a few groups– meal times stay the same, you have more visiting hours [friends/fam have to leave during snacks tho obv]. You can watch tv, talk to other patients, lots of crafts, nail painting…. you can nap a lot if you want.
Do you get to know your weight?: Yes, your doc will tell you if you want to know.
How fast is the weight gain process?: I’m sure it varies– i think the aim is 0.5 lbs a day?
Most people stay about 2 weeks, but be prepared to stay longer. If you come in close to 90% of your IBW, it may be shorter. If it’s less than 2 weeks, you get to go on passes on your first weekend which is nice.
The psychiatrists don’t take insurance– so even if the hospital is covered be prepared for a sizeable bill there if you don’t have good out of network coverage.
I felt their IP program was organized better than their PHP program, but that may have had to do with patient #s. I was on the unit when there weren’t very many other patients present, so things went pretty smoothly. When I did PHP, there were a ton of people.
I disliked the nutritionist there, and I didn’t like knowing my calorie level.
I liked that it was in a medical hospital, so when i had medical problems I felt like I was in good hands [most of the time].
has anyone been recently that could do a review? i’m starting next week. thx.
this is for php/iop
When were you there:july ’08- september ’08
Describe the average day:be there by 9. different people are weighed on different days, i think anywhere from all five days, to just once a week. first group is psychotherapy (everyday) then snack then group then lunch then two more groups. IOP people leave after lunch.
What were meals like? it’s hospital food, so it’s not great. there is one nurse that eats with you and takes notes. sometimes games are played sometimes conversations. most of the time its pretty ok.
What sorts of food were available or served? cereal, pizza, tofu/vegetable stirfry, burgers (veggie and turkey too), ziti, chicken, fish, salad, yogurt.
Did they supplement? How did that system work? they used CIBs for the most part, but if you needed to put on a lot of weight, they had ensure plus. if you didnt finish a meal, they didnt supplement, but if you refuse 3 times, your out.
Does it work on a level system? nope
What sort of groups do they have? body image, psychotherapy, nursing education, art, goals, nutrition, i think there are more but i forget.
What was your favorite group? art
What did you like the most? my therapist (elana)
What did you like the least? no smoking breaks
Would you recommend this program? yeah, as a step down. it was a pretty good program.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? depends on if you are weight gain or not and where you are mentally and everything.
What did people do on weekends?go homme
Do you get to know your weight? no it’s blind weights
How fast is the weight gain process? it depends
What was the average length of stay? like 3 weeks to a month. some longer some shorter
What was the average age range? it varies a lot. there were a lot of teens and a good number of adults when i was there.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team? yeah they will help you find a therapist, if your none there doesnt have their own practice.
How many IP beds? How many patients in PHP or IOP? while i was there it varied a lot anywhere from like 5 or 6 to close to 20.
When were you there: November 07-January 08
Describe the average day: Wake up at 5:30 for vitals & weight, shower and go back to sleep (or whatever you want to do) until breakfast at 7:30. school-aged patients have school until 10 (everyone else has free time or individual therapy) and then group until lunch at 12:30. continue groups until 4, then an hour and a half free time until dinner at 5:30. visiting hours after dinner and then snack time at 9 (snack also at 11am and 4pm). bedtime at 11 (12 on weekends).
What were meals like?: Depending on the patients (usually really nice and easy to get along with) we would either talk about whatever (but no foods, rituals, behaviors, weights, calories, etc.) or play a game like Outburst, Scattegories, or the Alphabet game or any other game we could think of (they got old fast). You have 45 minutes to complete meals, and when time is up you tell the nurses (two at every meal) whether you are complete, incomplete, and/or saving anything for snack time.
What sorts of food were available or served?: There was pretty much everything basic for every meal. Friday nights for dinner there was quiche was extremely scary but fantastic. Every few days you have meal planning group in which you plan each meal with the proper amount of exchanges (which was a pain in the ass to figure out at first – but you get used to it).
Did they supplement? How did that system work?: If you get a sudden increase in calories they will give you a supplement on that day, but will allow you to change your meal plan accordingly the next day or the day after. Be prepared for sudden increases. And if you have to gain a lot of weight you usually have to have a few supplements a day in addition to your calorie level.
What privelages are allowed?: After being inpatient for a few days and after your vitals improve to a healthy level you are on “level 3” or, allowed to go outside with the group every few days. You only go outside for 15 minutes or so, where you don’t really do anything but sit and breathe. No smoking allowed.
Does it work on a level system?: When you first get in, no matter how stable your vitals are, you are on level 1, which means you are to be watched for falling, dizzyness, etc. Once your vitals stable out and you are not dizzy or fainting, you are on level 3.
What sort of groups do they have?: Psychotherapy, meditation, Occupational Therapy, nutrition, relapse prevention (and others that i can’t remember)
What was your favorite group?: not really sure, occupational therapy with Jim (ughhhh *shudder*) was pointless and he made me feel like a child. But everything else was pretty helpful, especially nutrition.
What did you like the most?: Being surrounded by people that understood (almost) exactly what I was going through. Everybody there is so, so supportive. Most of the nurses are extremely sweet and easy to get along with.
What did you like the least?: We were not allowed to stand when we didn’t need to. I got in trouble for cutting a banana because apparently we have to eat “hand foods” with our hands and absolutely zero rituals are acceptable. There is a ritual board in the multipurpose room (where you eat and have all of your groups) which has a huge list of things you are not allowed to do during meals (such as talk about food or even say a specific food item – you have to say “food item”, weight, calories, etc, shake your feet, eat in a specific order or manner, random stuff like that).
Would you recommend this program?: Absolutely. The doctors are amazing and everyone there is so helpful. Yeah, sometimes its a little overboard but that’s usually what we need.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?: None at all. People got in trouble for skipping and such. I got in trouble for pacing while I read in my room.
What did people do on weekends?: Friends and family come to visit. If you are allowed to go on pass you can do so. (Pass is for either four or seven hours and you have to have either one or two meals out – depending on what your doctor tells you what to do). You can nap all day if you want to.
Do you get to know your weight?: Depending on your doctor and how much he trusts you. The nurse that weighs you is not allowed to tell you your weight but depending on your “trustworthyness” (or your ED’s) you can ask your doctor and he may or may not tell you. But don’t ask him every day.
How fast is the weight gain process?: That depends on how much weight you have to gain. They want you to be somewhere around the 85th percentile. Some people can be there up to a few months, but that’s usually not the case. You or your parents (if you’re under 18) can sign you out early if it takes longer than expected to gain-but that’s not recommended.