Sierra Vista Hospital

Reviews 3

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Rachel Hotz

I admitted myself to the UC Davis emergency room on February 14, 2016 for depression and with every intention of seeking an inpatient program where I could take some time to myself and recover, become consistent with my medication again, and meet people who had similar issues so I wouldnt feel so alone. I stayed there for the initial 72-hour hold I was placed on (called a 5150), and my psychiatrist said I was doing so well that I should sign a form indicating I was no longer on any kind of hold, but instead receiving medical treatment on a voluntary basis. I signed this form on the 17th of February, 2016. The next day, I wanted to go home due to the unhealthy environment that came with Sierra Vista Hospital. Id wake up to screams, fights between patients, and other unpleasant things of that nature. I resorted to staying in my room all day every day just to get away from the inpatients and their negativity. Of course, it is to be expected that theyd feel negative and I have nothing against them. It is the staff with whom I have a problem. Upon requesting to go home, since I was there voluntarily, I received nothing but rudeness. I had to fight for my rights to leave, despite being voluntarily there, and it became a huge hassle to even be considered "able to leave," which shouldnt have even been an issue, again, because I signed a form indicating I was there voluntarily. Once my case worker and I finally sat down and talked, she saw my point of view (or so I thought), and spoke to the Chief Medical Doctor for this Sierra Vista Hospital. She said that since my psychiatrist was no longer in the building, wed need the medical doctors approval to sign the discharge paperwork. I waited patiently, and sure enough, my case worker (named Samina) took me into a quiet room and had me sign all the discharge paperwork required. I signed forms indicating I was no longer under the medical care of this facility, that I was leaving AMA (against medical advice, because my psychiatrist suggested I leave Monday and I refused because I needed to go home and tend to my house and other responsibilities), and a few others as well. I was happy! I shook her hand and she told me to take care of myself, and that the taxi taking me home would arrive in about an hour. An hour passed, and Samina came to speak with me again. Only this time, it was to inform me that the medical doctor had changed his mind, and he wanted me to meet with my psychiatrist later that evening before Id be allowed to leave. When I requested copies of my paperwork that I had just signed, I was denied by both the head nurse and my case worker, and received the same response from both: "Since the medical doctor has decided you are instead currently unfit to leave, we cannot provide you with the paperwork." I might point out that it is within my legal rights, as well as anyones, to ask for and receive copies of any document I signed. So, after having been refused my copies, told I was to be involuntarily detained, and having been refused a written explanation as to why I was being detained involuntarily, I naturally got upset. I did meet with my psychiatrist about 4.5 hours later, and he went on to say that he has no right to legally hold me in the facility since I was here voluntarily (a completely different response than he provided the day prior), and I could leave that night if I wanted, though he did suggest I stay until Monday morning. This begged the question: "Why was I being held involuntarily in the first place, and what right did Sierra Vista Hospital have to do so?" I was very upset. My entire situation screamed "illegal". I left that night, and though I have no intention of ever returning to an inpatient facility in the future anyway, if by chance I must return, I will not be going to Sierra Vista. I caution those who are considering placing themselves, or a loved one, in this establishment.

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Anna Leonard

One day I hope to protest this place so wont be legal to put perfectly normal people here against their will.Well first off I was "kidnapped" by the emergency room personal treated like crap there then shipped to Sierra vista they make you take off all of your clothes there and male security guards pop in on you they make you wear a thin cloth and are constantly assaulting the mental patients there. Including me . One security guard man tried to pull off my clothes. I was dragged across a room several times for doing Nothing. The people there are already on their last leg and are treated brutally. Everyone in there is screaming dont touch me to staff members. They even had a pregnant lady there who they drugged up. Everyone has unattended to cuts all over their arms from trying to escape.They are severely understaffed and will inject you against your will. Im 19 years old and a woman imagine what it felt like when the men whispered in my ear they enjoy women patients . I tried to run but had grown men physically tackle me in little to no clothes Im alive and I say move on . Also as well they put you in restraints and i was denied water and forced to take several pills at a time with no nurse or doctor present to give me meds i did not need. They have tons of locked doors to lock you in. Its virtually impossible to escape that place. I broke down and cried several times in this chaotic place and instead of sympathy I was treated with downright contempt. I was also told with a nigerian and east indian accent we dont cater to you here. And by catering they meant my complaining for bein assaulted and sexually harassed. Thanks for the utter lack of treating people with humanity. Cutting corners equals professional hospitals these days working on acontract with kaiser. The worst part is its a company. They have a system in place kaiser sends people there all the time. Crappy firemen take people there. Its sickening I actually really did see people get abused there. They mocked me and believed i didnt have enough cognitive development to get it. At the end they couldnt diagnose me with anything so they slapped a bipolar disorder label on me and lied. They can never take away my life or goals. Im going to UC Davis this year an education none of those bullies could possibly obtain. The irony of it all is doctors force the "undesirables" in there like a witch hunt for " Being a danger to themselves or others" then the people working there drug you try to sexual assault you big time and beat you up. Hmm seems as those they cant fit their own criteria . They also had one licensed nurse for every 30 people. They constantly ask if you have health insurance and can pay. I dont understand why the state can even have a 72 hour hold if they cant hold up their end and investigate these places further. Sierra vista has had multitudes of people file fines with the state and nothing is done. This represents the indifferenece and negligience demonstrated by the states failure to help these people.Most of the patients are just sad people and bad things have already happened to them. Why break a broken person down more ?

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Kelsey Boling

It is my firm belief that the positive reviews on this place were made by staff. I was held here in May of 2013 and all I can say about it is that I felt like a prisoner in an ill maintained camp. The clinically depressed patients (like myself) were not separated nor kept safe from those patients with severe mental illness. I was tortured by one such patient (who just happened to be my room mate!) who would not allow me to sleep or to use the bathroom my entire stay, constantly screaming at me that I was a sinner and would burn in hell. When I complained, the staff just said her name once, told her to stop, and then they walked away. Needless to say, she did not stop. She assaulted multiple other patients. When she wasnt talking as though she was trying to get into the staffs pants, she was harassing the other patients both physically and mentally over their clothes or their physical appearance.On the day of my release, I witnessed her attack a black girl and rip her hat from her head without warning or known reason. The staff did nothing but request she leave them alone and threaten to escort her to her room. One staff member told me personally that she thought the woman was "cute once you get used to it." I have severe stomach ulcers that I needed prescription antacids for and the staff refused to give them to me until I was seen by "their" doctor, who was not scheduled to see me until the next day. I was sick and throwing up from pain and nausea that comes with ulcers. The staff solution was to ignore me completely or to humiliate me in front of the other patients by teasing me about my medication, saying things like "The others can wait until pill time, cant you?" or "It wont kill you to wait like everyone else." (I have to take my medications regularly at 6 am. "Pill time" is not until 9 pm. and even then they wouldnt give me my medication until long after that.) I continually requested my medication, a non habit forming antacid. I felt criminalized by the staffs words and tone and they treated me as though I was a drug addict going through withdrawls, or that I was as out of touch with reality as my room mate. I can promise that this hospital will never see me again. If I am ever required to be held at a hospital and anyone attempts to bring me to Sierra Vista, I will run.