Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)

Partial Hospitalization (PHP) is designed as an alternative to hospitalization. Patients may be enrolled directly into a PHP program or may be "stepped-down" from a hospital setting to facilitate the quickest return to the home setting. PHP offers all of the program intensity of acute inpatient care without having to stay in the hospital overnight. Treatment consists of multiple treatment modalities (individual therapy, group therapy, education groups, family therapy and physician oversight) provided in a coordinated manner to achieve short-term stabilization of immediate crises. Skilled nursing care is provided as well as routine treatment supervision by a psychiatrist.

PHP typically occurs 4-5 days per week, 4-5 hours per day. Partial Hospitalization is time-limited and concludes when the patient's immediate presenting problem is stabilized or resolved.

Advantages of PHP:

• Patient continues to live at home, but comes to hospital for programming
• Weekly psychiatric oversight and supervision
• Skilled nursing interventions
• Multi-disciplinary treatment team
• Stabilization of condition that would otherwise result in hospitalization
• Tutorial school classes (for children and adolescents) may be offered
• Hospital stays may be shortened by "step-down" to PHP
• Less-intensive, less-expensive alternative to hospitalization
• Specialty programs available