Does anyone have a recent review for inpatient?

Any reviews on inpatient? It doesn’t have to be super recent.

I was there in 2015 in the IOP. It was absolutely awful. The counselors lied about my weight to get me into Outpatient. When exactly a week prior the counselor was suggesting I go inpatient for a week. How does that make any sense? Had so much to do with them needing more space in the program. At the expense of the current patients’ health. I DO NOT recommend this program. If you can, go somewhere else. The staff and program is awful. They can’t keep any consistent staff. Patients come back at least 3 times. Some while I was there it was their 5th time in the program. I Went somewhere else, and what a huge difference.

Wouldn’t recommend it they lied and told me they would support my child’s vegan diet than when she arrived refused to..she lost weight there and was discharged in a week…it’s located in a psychiatric hospital and the floor above was all schizophrenic

Was a patient way back in 1988. My, things have changed since then, but it is still there! At least now they term it as stabilizing instead of recovery. After years of anorexia and bulimia, I did end up finding recovery working 12-step recovery.

When were you there:
Most recently November 2016

How many patients on average?
About 8-10. They moved the adolescent/children’s side to Children’s Hospital and then Wexford I think for PHP/IOP. A transitional unit is on the other side of the hall, which can be stressful when people are screaming or banging around and staring in to the dining room while you’re already freaking out about eating.

Does it treat both males and females?
Yes. The only difference is that males get a single room and their own bathroom.

How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
There is absolutely no individual therapy at COPE inpatient!! Their main goal is stabilization. You see an individual therapist starting in PHP. You do see a social worker, but it’s more for continuing treatment stuff and family concerns. She’ll also help with disability if you need it, school/work, etc.
You do “rounds” every day with the main staff (psychiatrist, head clinical nurse, and psychologist) and with a psychiatrist from the general hospital on the weekends. Rounds are basically where you voice your concerns with the team and vice versa. Sometimes there are residents that sit in as well, but they usually just sit there and listen.
If you need to see a medical doctor for an issue you let them know in rounds and they’ll put you up on the medical board for the PA to come see you. Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn’t. Usually she will the same day or next. And she’s sometimes in rounds as well, so you can address your issue then too. If it’s a more complex issue they’ll bring in a specialist from the medical hospital attached to the psych hospital. Presby is an excellent hospital with pretty good staff.
The dietitian is different for everyone and it depends on who you have. Some see theirs every 2 days, some see her twice in 2 weeks-once upon admission and the day of discharge. That’s frustrating, but you can request to see her in rounds. Sometimes you see her, sometimes you don’t.

What is the staff ratio to patients?
There’s 2-3 MTs (techs/student nursing assistants) on the unit usually and 1-2 nurses at all times. There’s been a huge turnover since I was last here and I think it was a pretty great one! The MTs and nurses are AWESOME!! They’re the ones that are with you 98% of the day and the ones most people end up talking to about urges, concerns, and just random and fun stuff.

What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc?
DBT, CBT, Interpersonal skills are utilized. Then there are groups split up and umbrellaed under those categories.

Describe the average day:
5:45 AM-6:45 AM: Wake up (you choose your wakeup time between this hour at 15-30 min increments), change in to a gown, vitals, bathroom, weight, and either hang out in the mileu area or go back to bed. If you have a history of purging you’re supposed to shower in the morning. If you are on Fall 2 (there are 2 fall levels), then you shower at night with a staff member sitting outside the two shower stalls. You’re also not allowed in the bathroom alone if you’re on Fall 2.
7:30 AM: Nurse calls out people who get pre-breakfast meds.
8 AM: “Goals” Group. A patient or MT goes down the list of current patients on the unit, which are written on a large whiteboard, and you set a treatment related goal for the day.
8:30 AM: Breakfast. Sometimes it’s on time, most times you don’t start eating until closer to 8:45.you do get 1 cup of caffeinated coffee or tea!!
*Meds* again after. Most patients request Simethicone (AKA Gas-X) to help with discomfort and bloating.
9:30 AM-10:15ish AM: Usually a group of some sort. You are on “SMO” for 45 mins after each meal. SMO is basically when you can’t go to the bathroom or in to your room until SMO is over. If you have to go to the bathroom staff takes you and you’re watched. If you finish 100% SMO is 45 mins, if you don’t it’s 1 hour. For snack, SMO is shorter, but the same rules apply.
10 AM-12 PM: Usually group, people getting pulled for rounds, or downtime.
12:15 PM: Lunch. Once again, could be early or late. SMO afterwards.
*Afternoon Meds*
1:30 PM-5 PM: Depending on the day you could have groups, off unit time, computer time, visitors (hours for visiting are posted), nap, etc.
5:15 PM: Dinner. Early or late. SMO after.
6:30 PM-8 PM: Free time/visiting hours/computer time/free time.
8 PM: Snack, if the dietitian puts it in your meal plan.
8:30 PM: “Wrap Up”. You go over if you achieved your goal from the whiteboard, say what your high of the day was, and what you’re thankful for.
9 PM: Every other night or so the MTs bring out hot water and you get to have caffeine free tea or Sanka. It’s really nice because during the day they only have the plain decaf hot tea, but on tea night you get to chose from 5 or 6 varieties.
9:30 PM-11 PM: If you’re on CO or Fall 2 this is when you can shower. Otherwise, you can pretty much do whatever.
11 or 11:30 PM: Patients have to be in their rooms. You can have the lights on and read or whatever, but you have to be in your room, at least that’s the rule. Some people who can’t sleep have stayed up a bit to talk with the MT on duty or if someone is having high urges or really upset.

What were meals like?
You are given a meal plan (MP) with a number by the dietitian that has your food exchanges per meal. Most patients who restrict are started out at a low MP (MP5, MP7) and increased every 2 days. The dietitian will meet with you when you get an increase or you will be told in rounds. Sometimes you get a CS added to your meal plan. This is a combo snack and is 1 food worth between 200-300 cals (protein bars, candy bars, chips, etc). I think you’re given 45 mins for meals and 20-30 for snacks (depending on the MT you can talk them in to 20 min snacks if no one has 3+ items). You can sit where you want at the long table, but you sit at the head with the MT if you’re on “food precautions”(no napkin allowed). A condiment cart is wheeled around and you take what you need (plasticware, condiments (no more than 3 of a kind), tea bags/Sanka, extra bowls/plates, coffee in the AM). At the same time another MT will fix trays that are wrong, “core” apples, and make sure things are right. Once everyone has what they need the MT will write the start and end time on a large whiteboard. There’s an MT at the head of the table and usually another one that is a “floater” that grabs things people might need throughout the meal. When you’re done eating you alert the MT and they have you hold up everything and dump out cups or containers with fluids and show the empty plates and stuff. They also ask for your fluids. Fluids are measured in mLs and are kept track of at every meal and whenever you drink something.Everyone is on a fluid min and max. You lose privileges for going under or over. Jello, sherbert, ice cream, and soup count as fluids as well. Meals are stressful (hello, food), but the MTs and patients usually tended to talk, joke, play trivia or whatever games, have the radio on. It isn’t that bad!

What sorts of food were available or served? It’s hospital food. You used to be able to fill out a menu choosing your meals according to your exchanges, but they got rid of that and now you eat whatever comes up. Everyone pretty much has the same thing, except for special diets or if you’re on a larger meal plan. I’ll see if I can remember some of it:
Cereals, oatmeal, english muffin, bagel, regular and greek yogurt, milks (including choice of soy and chocolate if you want), salad w/ dressing packets, egg/tuna salad sandwich, PB&J, grilled cheese, turkey and ranch wrap, chicken noodle/tomato soup, mac and cheese, stuffing stuffed chicken, mashed/baked/fried potato wedges, hamburger or gardenburger, french toast, pancakes, oatmeal with brown sugar, garlic/red pepper hummus and pretzel cups, pizza, juices, apples/grapes/oranges/bananas/fruit cups, jello, ice cream, sherbert, saltines (salted and unsalted), dinner rolls, PB, mayo, granola, cream cheese, ginger ale, iced tea (Turners), lemonade, grilled chicken sandwich, rice pilaf..I know there’s a lot I’m forgetting. If the dietitian adds a CS (combination snack=one food item 200-300 cals) to your meal plan they have stuff like NuGo bars, teddy grahams, candy, poptarts, basically “junk food”.

Did they supplement? How did that system work? Yes. If you don’t eat 100% they calculate it to a percent and give it to you in Ensure Plus. You have 10 mins to drink the Ensure and EVERYONE has to sit in the kitchen waiting for the person to drink it or not. Tip: usually it’s less calories and easier to just eat the food. The percents aren’t exact and I believe are now done in 25% increments instead of an exact percent.

What is the policy of not complying with meals? At first they’ll have you fill out Behavioral Analysis Chains (BCAs) and you write what you’ll do differently. If you continue to not comply with meals and refuse backup or don’t drink it they will either tube you if you’re underweight, or make you eat out on the unit with a nurse or MT. If you’re close to your IBW or are at a “normal” weight they’ll kick you off ED Protocol or just discharge you, especially if you refuse backup (“you can starve at home for free”). Most patients are pretty good with complying with meals because the Ensure backup tends to be more calories than what you left on your plate.

Are you able to be a vegetarian? Yes, but I don’t think vegan, though I’m not 100% sure and you are allowed to be vegan in PHP/IOP.

What privileges are allowed? Off-unit time, computer time, Self-select, gym time (aka bouncing a ball in a carpeted room), movie in the auditorium if you have no adolescents on your floor (COPE makes exceptions to accept 16+), Bingo (every 3rd Thurs I think?)..not too much.
Self-select is where you go across the street to Presby’s cafeteria for lunch or dinner to pick what you want based off your exchanges. It’s meant to mimic real world practice. Keep in mind if you are diabetic or have to carry an EpiPen for food allergies you can’t go to self-select or the restaurant outing unless there’s a nurse available to carry your meds for you, which is exceptionally frustrating! Though I was told they are working on trying to get this changed. I mean I’ve used my EpiPen for 10+ years and if something happens you’re in a hospital cafeteria lol.

Does it work on a level system? Not really. I guess going to Self-Select and a restaurant outing (rare) is typically the last step before discharge and people typically go to SS for 1-2 weeks prior to discharge. If you stay for a longer time, 1-1.5+ months, you get an 8 hour pass, but it seems really rare.

How do you earn privileges?
Eat 100%, meet your fluid minimums, but don’t go over your max (usually between 2000 mL-3500 mL a day), don’t engage in behaviors, attend groups.

What sort of groups do they have?
CBT, CBT Skills, DBT, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Spa Therapy, Recovery Planning, Relapse Prevention, Medication Group (if the lady decides to show up), Weights and Measures Nutrition Group, General Nutrition Group, Self-Esteem/Body Image, Interpersonal, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some. The CBT/CBT Skills/DBT groups are interactive, but basically comes from reading off a sheet with a practice activity at the end.You also have Community Meeting every Monday which is where the “head staff” you meet with in rounds and the unit director sit with everyone as a group and you talk about community issues, give suggestions and feedback on groups and any changes, bring up maintenance issues. It’s a lot more laid back than rounds and you’re with your peers.

What was your favorite group?
Honestly it depended on who was running it.

What did you like the most?
Almost all the nurses and MTs are wonderful. They’re patient, kind, efficient, personable, and always available to talk and help you out with stuff. Most of the time the other patients are nice, so it makes being together pretty much 24/7 much easier. Rounds in the morning are also pretty personal and small. Typically, the same 3 providers are in your rounds and the new psychiatrist is tough, but compassionate. Sometimes there is an intern or a few students, but the most I ever had was 6, which was a lot better than the 13+ that were there for my Hopkins rounds. They’re also really good about accommodating food allergies with the food itself. Staff doesn’t give you grief if you receive an item that has an allergen warning on it (i.e. the ice cream had a warning and they swapped it out no problem) or if nothing is listed at all (granola, which I’ve never been able to find without tree nut warnings).

What did you like the least?
There seems to be a huge breakdown of communication between the head staff and the MTs/nurses. I feel like the MTs and nurses wouldn’t be relayed vital information about a patient. Kitchen rules would get mixed up and people would be on different pages (are Shake ’em Ups allowed to be poured in to a cup?) with different food items. The MTs and nurses are with us all day and I feel like they should have a bigger say in treatment suggestions regarding some aspects, but many have even voiced they didn’t feel listened to by the head staff and that things simply weren’t being communicated. When breakdown in communication begins to affect the patients directly, it’s a problem. Lots of downtime on the weekend is still an issue, but it’s A LOT better than it used to be!
Also brand new patients aren’t really told the rules and how loss of privileges work. So many will do something they honestly had no idea would result in loss of privileges and then be upset and confused when they were told they couldn’t go to computer time, etc. I feel like all of this should be explained by a nurse or MT, and at least written down and hung up around the unit so that patients would know the expectations and what would result in losing privileges.
And not being able to flush your own toilet always sucks, but any respectable inpatient ED unit is the same way. Or at least it’s checked.

Would you recommend this program?
If you’re in need of medical stabilization and can understand that you won’t be getting individual therapy or delving in to “deep issues”, than yes. You definitely gain and they keep close tabs on your medical status.

What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
“Yoga” 1x a week if you have an order for it (glorified stretching), “gym” (bouncing a ball), off-unit time, and walking to Self-select if you could go.

What did people do on weekends?
Not much. There are a few groups a day on the weekends. Otherwise people have visitors, read, watch TV, do crafts/color, talk, etc. Weekends are very slow and boring.

Do you get to know your weight?
Yes, but it is displayed in Kg.

How fast is the weight gain process?
About 2 lbs a week. At least it was for me.

What was the average length of stay?
Depends on weight, medical stability, and insurance. Typically 2.5 weeks-1 month seemed to be the norm. Though there are some people who stay a few days until insurance kicks them out, while there are some who have stayed for 4+ months at a time.

What was the average age range?
Usually early 20’s-mid 30’s. There are some older adults and adolescents sometimes, but it all depends.

How do visits/phone calls work?
There are visiting hours each day. I think 9a-9p or something like that, but they’re pretty lax as long as you don’t have visitors during groups or meals! You are not permitted cell phones (or any electronics), but they have 2 cordless phones that you can use any time as long as you’re not in group. You’re not allowed to have them in your room, so most patients just went down the hall and sat down in a chair or in a recess in the wall (kind of like a cubby) to talk. They have a unit patient pay phone where you receive incoming calls.

Are you able to go out on passes?
I think only if you’re going to be there for more than a month or two. I’ve only see passes given twice.

What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?
They highly suggest that you step down to their partial and then IOP programs. I already had my own outpatient treatment team, so I went back to them after IOP last year (skipped PHP/IOP this time around). Not sure how they are with setting you up with an OP team after IOP, but they do have an outpatient clinic.

Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
Not that I’m aware of, but I’m local. Transitional housing isn’t available. I know legally a translator has to be provided if the patient’s native language isn’t English.

Other?
I hated not being allowed any sort of electronics or “sharps”. I understand the reasoning behind it, but even being allowed supervised shaving would have helped increase my mood! Days become meshed together and repetitive, but it’s like that at any ED inpatient facility that I’ve been to. I think allowing patients to have an MP3 player without wifi/camera capabilities would’ve helped a lot of patients who needed time to zone out.

COPE used to be a floor for overflow patients and we’d get a lot of patients who really shouldn’t have been on our floor due to violent behavior or confusion (we’ve had a few elderly patients with dementia), but it doesn’t seem to be like that. The beds are usually full and the other unit on the floor is now a transitional unit. It’s a lot more quiet.

And be aware that no drawstrings, laces, baggies, or full zippers are allowed! So many people come in and then have to call to get clothes brought in because of the zippers or drawstrings.
Overall not a bad program, but not great. Pretty much what you’d expect from an inpatient ED unit in a psych hospital that focuses on weight gain/medical stabilization. Things have improved greatly since the last time I was here, however.

I went to COPE in April-May 2014. I am thinking about going back. I don’t really want to, but I don’t know what else to do.

The good- my individual therapist. (You don’t have “therapy” per se, you just meet with them once a week or as needed.) She was WONDERFUL. At first I had some concerns since she is actually younger than I am, but that was just me being judgemental. By far the best therapist I’ve ever had in 20 plus years of this. I only wish I could see her on a weekly basis.

The nutirtionist- also did COPE IP and some IOP in 2009, and I really liked her both times.

D- She’s amazing! One of the group leaders

The Okay- They do try to offer support at meal times

The facilities are pretty nice (IP and IOP)

Some of the classes are helpful

The nutrition classes are really helpful, but in the 3 day a week program, I didn’t think we had enough nutirion. I think you’re supposed to have one each week but it seems like something else alwyas winded up taking that spot for some reason.

The bad- there were various incidents with patients and the very rude parking staff

Too much focus on DBT and CBT- some of the classes are just someone reading a worksheet from a workbook

How I left- I’m bulimic, and I relapsed at about week 4 of a 5 week stay. I did NOT feel ready to leave, but the next week I was magically able to be discharged. I didn’t WANT to be discharged. I wanted to stay until I had it figured out. I don’t know if it was insurance that caused the discharge, but if it was,I feel like UPMC should have worked harder to keep me there because I was not ready to leave (and relapsed shortly after.)

looking for recent reviews please!

any positive experiences? lol

The inpatient program at COPE is just for weight restoration and behavior interruption. There are generally two groups a day based on CBT or DBT, but no individual therapy. The partial program works more with distorted thinking and integrating recovery into the real world outside the hospital. Even though you are from out-of-state, you could stay in the Family House with a family member and do the partial program. If you have any more questions about inpatient, I was there Oct-Nov 2011.

I would like to do a fair review of COPE. I was last there for about 3 weeks in July 2010. It was three meals two snacks then, based on the exchange system.
The focus was on weight gain. There was one, maybe two groups a day, lead by very inexperienced staff, usually straight out of under grad.
I have been through it all at COPE – IP, PHP, IOP, DBT, since 1996. The program has deteriorated horribly over the years.
There is no individual therapy inpatient. Really, there is no therapy. Inpatient is purely for re feeding. The numbers are the only thing that matter. Tubes were very common on the adult side when I was there.
Out patient is a little better. You have groups. They are very basic. CBT, DBT, ect. Maybe they would be helpful to someone who hasn’t had an ed for an extended period of time, but they are definitely not helpful for me at this point. There are a couple of staff that I think are good, but the negative outweighs the positive.
I was told I would never recover. I investigated treatment elsewhere. I was told any other treatment would be a waste of time and money.
Thank God they were so so wrong.