Director: Jeffrey H. Hsu, M.D.
LOCATION600 N. Wolfe Street
Meyer Building, Room 235
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone 410-614-6254 / Fax 410-614-7658
First Step is a partial hospitalization program offering multidisciplinary treatment for men and women who suffer from drug and alcohol dependence as well as othe psychiatric conditions and medical conditions. The program is located on Meyer 2 and is designed for substance abusers stepping down from a medical or psychiatric inpatient unit who need a more intensive level of care before progressing to outpatient substance abuse treatment. Patients should be medically and/psychiatrically stable enough to participate in group therapy eight hours a day. The goal of this partial hospitalization (day hospital) program is to provide combined medical and psychiatric care that treats addicition, provides medical health care services, and improves the quality of life for patients and their families.
Patients are seen by an attending psychiatrist or internist daily. Accompanying medical conditions often include endocartitis, osteomyelitis, cellulitis, hypertenisve urgency, HIV, pneumonia, cancer, large abcesses, and uncontrolled diabetes. Other psychiatric disorders include major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION
- Patients must have a diagnosis of drug or alchohol dependence accompanied by a medical or psychiatric condition.
- Patients must desire treatment and show motivation for recovery.
- Patients must be admitted through a hospital or emergency room discharge and require skilled nursing care.
- Patients must be able to walk without assistance.
- Patient's medical and/or psychiatric condition must be stable enough to not require 24-hour nursing care.
- Patient's alcohol and drug withdrawal symptoms must be stablilized to the point to not require 24-hour medical monitoring.
- Patients must be mentally and physically capable of participating in group therapy seven days a week.
TREATMENT OFFERED
The treatment team includes internists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, addiction therapists, occupational therapists, community outreach workers, nurses, case managers, and volunteers. The substance abuse treatment is based on a 12-step model of recovery and treats substance abuse through intensive individual and group therapy sessions, which are aimed at changing behavior and ways of thinking. Patients meet with the treatment team daily in morning rounds to review individualized treatment goals. Individual sessions with counselors are held several times a week. Patients attend substance abuse groups on the Meyer 2 unit from 7am-6pm, seven days a week. At the end of the day, they return home or spend the night at one of the off-campus residences (see below). Patients are expected to provide urine samples for random drug screening. Family sessions can be set up with the patient's individual substance abuse counselor if so desired. All patients attend the hospital's open Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings which are held on weekends. Patients are encouraged to develop a recovery support network and to find a temporary sponsor.
HOUSING
The First Step Program provides off-campus housing for patients in a supervised gender-specific residence. Housing units provide a structured setting designed to enhance recovery efforts. Supervised transportation is provided between housing and the day hospital program. All meals are provided at the hospital.
INSURANCE
The program is covered by most medical insurance providers.The program accepts patients with Maryland Medical Assistance or who have no insurance.
DISCHARGE PLANNING
The usual length of stay for psychiatric patients is 14 days and for medical patients, 28 days. At the end of the program, patients are transitioned to the intensive outpatient substance abuse clinic at 911 Broadway (Program for Alcohol and Other Drug Dependencies). Patients are given assistance in setting up outpatient medical and/or psychiatric care.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
REFERRALS
For information about referrals, contact Steve Miller, the Partial Hospitalization Admissions Coordinator at 410-614-8791 or by email at smillerb@jhmi.edu
