Inpatient Care
Salina Regional Health Center Santa Fe Campus
400 South Santa Fe, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 452-6700
Helping People Find Hope
The inpatient psychiatric services unit at Salina Regional Health Center is designed for acute assessment and treatment, any time night or day.
We provide rapid stabilization under close psychiatric supervision to patients who are in psychiatric emergency, or who are a danger to themselves or others.
Patients come to our unit in many ways. It may be a direct admission from a family doctor, a recommendation from a therapist, or a request by an emergency department physician. It may be a suggestion from a minister or even one's family or friends. No matter how someone comes to us, we have the same goal ... to provide the best treatment possible involving a multidisciplinary team to help patients find hope.
During a typical stay, patients meet daily with a psychiatrist and participate in group and activity therapies. Patients are challenged to examine what behaviors they can change to improve their health, and are assessed for any needed medication changes. Spiritual needs are also addressed.
Bottom line, careful assessment and psychiatric monitoring help stabilize patients quickly. The average length of stay for a visit is 4.5 days.
What is a psychiatric assessment?
What should I bring?
Why is it a locked unit?
What if I don't want to stay?
Can I really feel better?
Patient Comments
What is a psychiatric assessment?
A psychiatric assessment deals with current problems, history, and current medications. How well the patient is functioning in life is assessed as well as whether the patient appears to be a risk to themselves or someone else. A medical history is also taken to make sure other health problems are not missed.
Patients with depression or other conditions may minimize their illness. Thus, family members and friends are encouraged to provide information. Ask to speak to the nurse completing the assessment if there are concerns to be shared.
Once the assessment has been completed, our nurse shares the information with an on-call psychiatrist. The doctor and nurse discuss the concerns as well as any patient safety issues. If the doctor believes hospitalization is necessary, the patient is then admitted to the unit.
If a patient is not admitted, community resources will be discussed and appropriate referrals will be made.
A daily change of clothes and minimal personal care items such as toothpaste or deodorant is all that is needed. Clothes can be washed on the unit and items such as curling irons or razors can be checked out. We request no products containing alcohol be brought (i.e., mouthwash) and blow dryers can not be used throughout the hospital.
Even though our unit is voluntary, we keep the doors locked. This is foremost for patient safety and confidentiality. We find patients feel safer in a secure environment and are better able to concentrate on treatment.
We also have patients who choose to keep their stay private. By having the unit locked, it helps control the flow of traffic and confidentiality.
These policies have helped us reach a 90% or higher patient satisfaction rate for "Security Felt While in the Hospital."
We realize that inpatient treatment can be scary and our goal is to make it as safe and helpful as possible.
In the event a patient does not want admission, a psychiatric nurse will review the options. Since we offer a full spectrum of care, a person may be referred to our New Options Intensive Day Treatment Program or Veridian Behavioral Health. If you are already involved with another provider, you will be encouraged to see them for continuity of care.
In the event our physician believes a person is a danger to self or others though, they may be required to stay. The amount of time is set by law and this is called an emergency hold. If a hold occurs, staff will guide you through the process and explain what will happen next.
The answer is a most definite yes! Disorders such as depression and anxiety are highly treatable. Patients with bipolar disorders and psychosis can also be stabilized. There are new medicines every year and our treatment staff keeps up on the latest developments and research. While it takes awhile, you can feel better if you stick with it and keep trying. We are here to help you through.
"The entire staff made my stay a good experience. Everyone was top notch. I feel confident and like a new person. Every courtesy was extended to me."
"Thank you for the help. It was nice seeing smiling faces. They make you feel good about yourself."
"Everyone was friendly and supportive, but also very honest. I appreciate all the help that I got."