- Why does my loved one need an inpatient or partial hospitalization level of care? Isn’t outpatient treatment good enough?
- How long does my loved one need to be in treatment?
- Why do I need to attend the family workshop/therapy sessions?
- How do you manage medical/health issues aside from addiction issues?
- What is a typical day in the PHP program like?
- Can I visit my loved one?
- Does my loved one need a car while at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center?
- What should my loved one pack?
Why does my loved one need an inpatient or partial hospitalization level of care? Isn’t outpatient treatment good enough?
Every treatment plan is based on the individual’s needs. There are several factors that our physicians consider when determining level of care. Some of these factors include the severity of the addiction, risk for withdrawal, physical and emotional status, relapse potential without structured treatment, family or social support and safety of living environment. Every person who seeks help at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center receives a complete assessment to determine the safest and most effective treatment plan.
How long does my loved one need to be in treatment?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, individuals progress through addiction treatment at various rates. However, research shows that good outcomes are contingent on adequate treatment lengths. At UF Health Florida Recovery Center, each patient has an individual treatment plan. Generally, for outpatient treatment programs, longer participation yields better results. People who participate in treatment for short periods of time often do not achieve the high recovery rates seen in their counterparts who stay in treatment longer and may be more likely to need additional treatment in the future. Often, you will hear people talk about 30, 60 and 90 day treatment. However, addiction is a chronic disease, like diabetes or hypertension, so formal treatment marks the beginning of a lifelong process of disease management. At the UF Health Florida Recovery Center, each patient has an individual treatment plan. Our team of experts will work with you and your loved one to determine the best plan of care to jump start the recovery journey.
Why do I need to attend the family workshop / therapy sessions?
You have been severely affected by your loved one’s addiction. You need help, too. Addiction is a family disease. At UF Health Florida Recovery Center, we invite you to learn more about the disease of addiction and how it affects people differently. Additionally, your participation in the family workshop and therapy sessions will help you cope during this difficult time. We offer support and resources for you. And, by being involved in your loved one’s care, you can experience some of the positive changes with him/her as he/she travels along the journey of recovery. participation in these activities also allows you to relate with other families who are going through similar experiences. You are not alone.
How do you manage medical/health issues aside from addiction issues?
One of the biggest benefits of treatment at UF Health Florida Recovery Center is access to specialized medical care from faculty physicians at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Only a few miles from the FRC campus, nearly 1,000 doctors practice in a wide range of medical specialties at UF Health Shands Hospital, which includes a Level 1 trauma center and several affiliated outpatient practices. Our addiction medicine doctors and psychiatrists work closely with them and make appropriate referrals to them for various medical conditions as necessary.
What is a typical day in the PHP program like?
Individuals participate in the partial hospitalization program at UF Health Florida Recovery Center seven days a week. Process groups with a Masters level therapist are held every day, and are focused on helping you practice new skills in dealing with fellow patients in an emotionally heightened environment. You learn to support each other, be honest with your feedback and constructive criticism, and identify and resist enabling behaviors. Participants in the program also go to 12-step meetings, engage in recreational therapy and attend various lectures or psycho-educational groups. Additionally, each participant will be assigned certain groups that are related to whichever treatment track they are on (Read more about our treatment tracks). Our physicians, who practice within the academic medical setting at UF Health, also offer medical lectures specific to the disease of addiction and the science of recovery. We also include time for our participants to run regular off-site errands to places such as the gym, the grocery store, the pharmacy, etc. The schedule maintains a balance of highly structured time while introducing downtime in which patients learn how to manage their downtime for leisure, self-care and assignments.
Visitation at the UF Health Psychiatric Unit is Thursday 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.; and Sunday 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Please understand that children under the age of 14 are not allowed to visit on the medical detox unit. For patients living on campus, participating in the partial hospitalization program, regular visitation is scheduled for friends, family and loved ones every weekend. Women are permitted to have visitors on Saturdays from 1 – 3 p.m., and men are permitted visitors on Sundays from 2 – 4 p.m. All visitors must be included on your loved one’s release of information to protect their privacy. During the first week of treatment, we encourage patients to turn inward and focus on themselves, and therefore request no visitation for the first seven days. Our experience shows that your loved one is able to be most invested in the program when distractions are limited.
Does my loved one need a car while at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center?
Transportation will be provided for all patient treatment needs. Examples include church on Sunday mornings, grocery shopping, recreational activity/outing, doctor’s appointments or pharmacy runs. If patients have a vehicle on campus, they must follow the guidelines outlined in order to drive offsite.
What should my loved one pack to enter treatment?
Bring:
- Enough clothes for 7-10 days. You will have structured time on the schedule to use our washers and dryers as part of the community housing amenities. Bring something warm to wear and layer over your clothes. Some of the group rooms are cool.
- Comfortable shoes for walking, as well as clothes and shoes appropriate for the gym.
- Hair dryers, electric razors, shampoo, deodorant, hair spray and other health and beauty aids (without alcohol) should be brought.
- If you have a favorite pillow or comforter, please remember to bring it. The beds are twin size. If you require earplugs as a light sleeper, please bring those, too.
- Bring an umbrella because you will be walking outside to get to different program areas.
- Bring any medications that you are currently taking in their original containers.
- If you choose to bring your cell phone and Apple Watch (or equivalent), it will be safely locked in your locker for your first 7 days of treatment while you are in orientation phase. Please bring headphones/earbuds with you.
- If you bring your laptop, tablet or iPod with you, the treatment team will review your access to these electronics on a case-by-case basis.
- Patients should leave valuables like jewelry and special keepsakes at home.
- Therapeutic self-care items like a journal, coloring book, spiritual reading, daily meditation, pictures of family.
- Email addresses of anyone in your support system that will be engaged in your treatment.