Posted by Noa on January 16, 2001, at 15:06:47
In reply to Re: What is hospitalization for depression like?, posted by julesvox on January 16, 2001, at 9:24:27
I think it often depends on what kind of insurance coverage you have--
--can you choose the hospital?
--does the insurance dictate the goals of hospitalization?
--does the insurance restrict access to hospitalization only to those who are at immediate risk of suicide?
--does the insurance dictate length of stay on the basis of cost and not on the basis of medical recommendations?
These things can influence what the hospitalization experience is like. With severe insurance restrictions, hospitalization can feel like a waste of time unless the patient really needs to be kept safe for a few days.
At the other end, hospitalization can be monumentally important in helping the treatment process--whether it is medication eval, or comprehensive healing environment, etc.
Probably, many of us have insurance that provides access to something not quite at either end of the spectrum.
Someone here once recommended doing the research about hospitalization just to have the info available in case it is needed. Find out what your insurance would cover, get familiar with the hospitals, meet with personell, ask questions about the treatment options, etc.
poster:Noa
thread:3958
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010105/msgs/3975.html