Returning To Sheppard Pratt

[zeckster81]

Well I was at Sheppard Pratt in MD about a year ago. That was when I was diagnosed fully with both CPTSD and DID. I am going back May 4ish and am nervous. Was any of you there when I was there last year? May 6-June 8? Has anyone been there these past months? I'm wondering if there has been any changes? When I was there it was very intense with the patients having a lot of difficulties. There was at least one code called a day. I'm hoping someone has been there during a time where it wasn't as hectic. Thoughts? Advice?

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I wish you the best. Hopefully it's calmed down. I think it varies as there were only a few codes called over my two months there a number of years ago. Good luck!

 

[zeckster81]

Thanks. I'm hoping it did too because the last stay was intense. Have you ever had a code called on you? What do they do? Every time they called it I hid in my room. Maybe if I knew what they did I would be more at peace. I just didn't like all the people coming on the floor when they did it.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

No, I never had a code called on me.

I think they were all called for self harm issues. There were only two that I can recall. There may have been another one or two called while I was there, but it was definitely not on the scope of one a day, that's for sure. I think when a code was called, we were told to stay in group or go to our rooms. I remember the EMT's being there for a couple of the codes because the patients had to be transported to GBMC for medical care.

It will vary according to whom is admitted at the same time you are. One of my stays was in September, the other in December. It was pretty empty in December because nobody wanted to be in the hospital over the holidays, and Many people ran out of insurance benefits. (The unit filled up shortly after Jan 1)

 

[zeckster81]

Thanks!!! The daily codes that were called were called on two patients in particular. I was just worried they were calling because the patients wanted to harm others. But it sounds like from what you said the codes are usually called on self harming. That is terrible, but makes me feel a little safer going. I bet it was empty in December. LOL!!! When I was there all the beds were filled and there was a waiting list. I guess May/June are popular times. That's when I am scheduled to return.

Thanks,
Amanda

 

[Deleted member 1860]

If a patient was harming another patient, I think that's grounds for immediate discharge Errr rather transfer. The unit has a responsibility to keep everyone safe.

 

[zeckster81]

You are totally making me feel so much better about going. I am scheduled to go around May 4th.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Let me guess, those people stayed on the lowest safety level?

You could call the hospital with your concerns.

I have a feeling that they'll tell you codes are called for patients out of control and/or self harming.

They would have a major lawsuit on their hands if they kept someone on the unit who harmed another and later on, something worse happened.

 

[zeckster81]

Yeah there were one on ones with her. They had to be within 3 feet of the patients at all times. Which was annoying because there wasn't enough staff to help with other things, but that wasn't my problem. I just felt for the nurses having to do double duty.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Oh, I forgot about the one-on-ones.....Being in the hospital is hard enough without having someone within arm's reach at all times. I think if it was a matter of the person hurting another, the one-on-one's would look like Mr T!

I'm guessing that there wasn't enough extra staff at the time.....I know when I was there, extra staff was brought in for the one-on-ones......but if they constantly had one-on-ones, then I could see how they could quickly run out of extra staff. I know that staff workers have to be specifically trained for that unit and don't just float around the hospital.

 

[zeckster81]

I'm days away of going!