Patient Information
Inpatient Services
You will find on these pages information about the types of the services we provide for the treatment of chronic pain, admissions and billing details, and answers to the questions most frequently asked by patients and families.
- Inpatient Services
- Pain Admissions
- Pain Treatment Billing
- Frequently Asked Questions About Pain Treatment
- Pain Treatment Program Admissions Packet (pdf)
- What to Bring (and what not to bring) with You (pdf)
If you do not find the information you need, please call the Pain Admissions Coordinator at 410-955-8069
Frequently Asked Questions About Pain Treatment
-
Chronic, disabling pain affects all aspects of a person's life. Psychiatry is the discipline that cares for the whole person, not just a single organ system. Our goal is to help patients change so that they can restore their function, engage in productive activities, and improve their quality of life. If we can define all the conditions responsible for chronic pain, regardless of whether they are psychiatric, medical, neurological, or surgical, then we can begin to design individual treatment plans with the patient. This integrated, interdisciplinary process recognizes how all aspects of the patient fit together and how an individual is greater than the sum of their parts. Problem areas combine to create a disabling illness that is complicated and requires more than simple fixes, but chronic pain can ultimately be unraveled for successful treatment outcomes.
-
The Pain Treatment Program (PTP) is a voluntary rehabilitation program. Patient safety is paramount at Hopkins and you will find that many inpatient units throughout the hospital have limited access for staff and visitors. In addition, the PTP shares the floor with often-vulnerable geriatric patients in need of extra precautions. There are visiting hours for family and friends and patients often leave the unit for group meetings or to walk on hospital grounds. Please note that the unit is smoke-free. Nicotine replacement therapy and other supports for smokers are available.
-
Admission to our program is a mental health admission through the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Psychiatry and will be authorized under the mental health portion of your insurance, not the medical portion. Before your admission, our business office will verify your insurance benefits, and the admissions coordinator will contact you with information about your coverage as it applies to our program. (Please note: this quote of benefits is not a guarantee of payment or a precertification for admission.) Please see the Admissions section for instructions on how to obtain information about your individual benefits. Find more information about insurance and billing.
-
Due to limited storage space, it is necessary to pack only essentials. However, the unit does have free laundry facilities. Three-to-four days worth of comfortable clothing, including a pair of athletic shoes, is appropriate. You may also wish to bring selected toiletries. Please leave valuables at home. If cash is needed, the Hospital has several ATM machines for your convenience. When making preparations for admission, take into account that you will be on the Inpatient Unit as well as the Day Hospital. You may bring cell phones and laptops to the unit. Please remember that you are responsible for all belongings you bring to the unit. Charging cords for these items will be held at the nursing station. We have Wi-Fi on the inpatient unit.
-
Suggested Items:
- Between 3-7 changes of clean clothing (washer and dryer on unit)
- Pajamas (no drawstrings)
- Bras (no underwire, sports bras recommended)
- Gym shoes with no laces (Velcro shoes recommended)
- Books and/or coloring books
- Clothes for PT (no drawstrings or metal clips)
- Plastic bags
- Heating pads
- Glass (to include flower vases and picture frames)
- Gym equipment (weights, ropes, etc.)
- Knives
- Lighters
- Electrical vapors or cigarettes
- High heels or wedges
- Expensive jewelry or irreplaceable items
Permitted on unit, but kept in a locked closet:
- Cords
- Razors
- Sharp objects (nail clippers, tweezers, etc.)
- Blow dryers
- Curling or flat irons
- Clippers (electrical razors)
- Canned drinks
- Glass (perfume, drinks, etc.)
Day Hospital
During your inpatient stay, the team will discuss your transition to the Pain Day Hospital, with the continued goal of returning you to greater functioning and better quality of life prior to your return to home and outpatient care. Participation in the Day Hospital serves to shorten the length of the inpatient hospital stay, and to allow patients to spend more time at home and with family while still enjoying the support of our structured treatment program.
Individuals attend the Day Hospital from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. As patients progress and meet intermediate goals, a discharge plan and outpatient care will be provided. The Pain Day Hospital uses the same treatment principles, approach and team members as the Pain Inpatient Service.
The Pain Day Hospital strives to:
- increase the patient’s functional ability to the highest possible level
- decrease the length of inpatient hospitalization for chronic pain
- provide a smooth transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment
- promote an understanding of the requirements of outpatient treatment
- facilitate supportive relationships of the patient with family, work, and community
- provide additional education and support for patients and families
Living Accommodations for Day Hospital Patients
Patients who live locally may stay at home while they are Day Hospital patients. For patients who do not live locally, we recommend contacting Johns Hopkins Guest Services at 410-614-5700.
Outpatient Consultation Pain Clinic
As an outpatient service, the Consultation Clinic for the Pain Treatment Program (PTP) sees patients who are referred by their physicians for review of their case in detail for the purpose of clarifying diagnoses, receiving recommendations for modifying ongoing outpatient treatment, and determining if the patient would benefit from admission to the PTP Inpatient Unit or Day Hospital. Patients are seen in the Osler Building, Room 320, of the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 410-955-2343, or fax 410-367-2063.