I call it the country club hospital. I\'ve been on 3 different floors. Delmonico unit upstairs is the best. It has a psychiatrist that sees you briefly in a side room that was not very helpful to me. I imagine all units are similar. Social workers walk around with clipboards but will rarely talk to you. Its like you\'re being babysat.
The main counter is understaffed and it takes a long time to talk briefly to a secretary/social worker. Their always running around like it makes you feel like you don\'t want to bother them. Food cart comes and you have a limited choice to pick from but its good. Sit down kitchen table fills up quickly. Hot coffee, snacks, ginger ale available most times. I went because I was suicidal and deeply depressed. You almost can\'t go there unless you tried or thought hurting yourself. I was cleared by Miriam Hospital to get an ambulance ride there. Once you\'re evaluated they take you to a floor they feel is good for you and you\'re locked in. Can\'t get out until the psychiatrist releases you. My insurance allows a two week stay then you\'re booted out to a cab, Uber, or family member. 5 of my days involved ECT electric therapy. Didn\'t help me im afraid.
Nice cafeteria downstairs but you have to be cleared. You pay for you\'re own food or bring a lunch and this is for day hospital only. Remember, you\'re locked in inpatient.
Once my 2 weeks were completed they suggested day hospital. Its outpatient and you can leave if you want but you\'re on your own. I hated day hospital ,CBT classes, round table meetings taking each a turn to talk but you\'re not forced to talk but you have to attend or they spring you loose. Sorry to say, it did nothing for me because I didn\'t participate. You have to be willing to help yourself. They give you the tools and lots of talk therapy. It runs all day. Some are there
court ordered but most aren\'t.
Butlers was good for me because it kept me from walking around wanting to hurt myself. I\'ve lapsed several times thats why I went several times. 10 Years free of hurting myself but I have a psychiatrist and social worker outside the hospital. Still depressed but stable on meds.
Butlers is expensive and private. You need good insurance to pay for it and they usually only cover 2 weeks. Not enough time to get well. Beautiful campus if you\'re deemed able to walk around with a group. There is absolutely no smoking inside or out so if you have to smoke, don\'t go there.
I can\'t say I enjoyed being there but it served it\'s purpose at the time. Im happy to say I don\'t need to go there anymore because its like a prison inpatient and their day program didn\'t help me because I didn\'t participate. If you\'re suicidal, go there, ask the medical hospital if they can send you there. I\'ve heard chilling stories about other facilities. In my case I was suicidal and someone called 911 and the rescue took me to Merriam and they arranged my transportation to Butlers.
