Penn Foundation

Reviews 3

DA

Danielle Heather

I received a prompt... on-the-day-I-walked-in bio-psycho-social evaluation. It was done in a professional matter. There was a glitch in communication with the Psychiatric NP concerning a med he prescribed me. I take part blame on that. And, to eliminate potential future issues I will be going with genomic testing with another provider. Its odd that Penn Foundations billing department has never had an encounter with that service. My insurance carrier covers it. Seems like it would help a lot of patients. Other than that, the NP was quite professional and prompt in calling me back with my concern... glitch aside. If I were taking meds, it is awesome to have a working pharmacy in -house. Those people were non-judgmental/professional. The front desk staff have been nothing but helpful. Perhaps, because I approach them that way. Most of my calls have been returned. Although, some got lost in the wind. When I missed a (3) part financial session, they left information concerning that at the front desk for me. The recovery outpatient center was helpful regarding an on-sight DRA group. What Ive been most impressed with is my recovery coach. When I needed inpatient several weeks back, an on-call recovery coach met with me at Grand View and stayed for a couple of hours. And, my actual coach really puts others from another facility to shame. As of 7/14/2017: I have ventured into the land of Yoga. I really appreciate its open to all clients. Also appreciate my insurance or lack of.... or wrong diagnosis doesnt come into play. I will be attending on a regular basis. Enjoyed being with other people and not solely because of whats wrong with me. As of 8/10/2017: Im not sure the reason Penn got rid of their partial program for mental health only consumers.... and I surely understand the need for a D/A only one. I really do. But, you arent serving your entire community by leaving a large portion out of the mix. Not a partial or IOP. Groups geared specifically for either a D/A Diagnosis.... OR... for only those with a set insurance. There is a huge gap between psychiatric inpatient (at another facility obviously) and Wellsprings. We arent all ready to set job-related goals; especially, if we are discharged from inpatient. People like me, are apparently channeled all back to your already overwhelmed competitor LVF. Unless you want to travel by train and bus to the city. Or get into Horsham. Your community doesnt just stop at county dividing lines. I live in Chalfont. Which is a few minutes away from Hilltown Township. Catchment areas are How Bucks decides to divide itself. Into three sections, for people like me to be funneled to appropriate OR NOT agencies for case management. NOR does it end at drug and alcohol issues. Or your current cause of Autism. All of those issues are in the same book. It doesnt say the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of the most important mental illnesses nor does it exclude addiction. Its all in the brain. So, while you continue to expand services for those with D/A issues.... people are still suffering and staggering through the mental health system. We may not be dying from Heroin but we are still here. And many are likely still dying.

SW

Swogjan Heaven

No stars. I didnt see a doctor on my first day. I was not very well assured by the staff who are all recovering opioid addicts (I figured this out later because of the tattoos.) Assurance is very important for a recovering benzo addict. Benzodiazepine addicts must be titrated down and counseled as such. Inpatient Detox programs are generally not designed for this. Even though their website claims that the Penn Foundation program does accommodate a Benzodiazepine addicts needs, it does not. On their website they promise an "individualized plan" . If by this they mean regular smoke breaks during which they take the patients out en masse to socialize and inhale fresh tar and nicotine then this might be what they are promising as your "individualized plan." Not a good practice for recovering addicts. Other hospitals have gone smoke free. There are patches, gum and vaping now. I wasnt even allowed to quietly walk around the common areas with a cool cloth. My personal situation required me to make phone calls. This is what not within their parameters of what an "individualized plan" permits. I do not smoke. I was not allowed outside even though I voluntarily signed in. I was not a "court ordered" patient. I was in the emergency room the day before because I had a severe upper viral infection and I could not breath. They would not give me access to my OTC Sudafed. I checked out AMA because they lost my trust. I told them I would call a Taxi. THEY WOULD NOT LET ME WAIT INSIDE FOR A TAXI. I asked if I could at least wait inside for the taxi. Their response, based on their Policies, was to dump me in the cold, windy parking lot of their rural campus at 1:30 AM with my belongings in a trash bag. They ordered me to leave the campus and said they should not even allow me to make phone calls to find a taxi service. I was cold, could not breath easily, I had no water and I was dragging about 20lbs worth of stuff. I was going through sudden Ambien withdrawal which can kill you or permanently scramble your brain. You get seizures. I was wondering around for almost two hours, disoriented in the dark, before I made it over to Grandview Hospitals emergency room. By then I was so thirsty I was crying but I was also vomiting from the distress. Also, they had no right to call my emergency contacts. They made it clear that I was no longer their problem when they ordered me off the grounds yet they called my emergency contacts which Im fairly certain violates my confidentiality rights under HIPAA. NEGLIGENT; CARELESS; DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TAKE A PERSON THROUGH BENZODIAZEPINE ADDICTION WITH CONCURRENT MEDICATIONS FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION; THEY CAUSED A GREAT DEAL MORE DISTRESS AND POST TRAUMATIC DISTRESS and expense for me to deal with. I would not recommend them for Benzodiazepine titration. I should sue them for endangering my life and for emotional suffering but Im not sure what my options are at this point.

ME

Melissa Peterman

My names Melissa Peterman (maiden name Moore) and I went to PFRC in 2010 for heroin addiction. High, mentally lost, and angry with my parents for giving me an ultimatum-- rehab, or homeless. The rainy Monday morning I agreed for them to take me here was the single best day of my life. I stayed only 4 weeks but in those 4 weeks I met the most amazing people, many of which I still keep in contact with 6 years later, and I learned more about myself in those 4 weeks than I had in 20 years of living. I am 6 years sober this month. 6 years ago this month I made the leap to go to PFRC and finally stop getting high and numbing myself from all emotion. The counselor I was assigned to there, I now forget his name, told me and my parents when I was going to be discharged that it was a huge mistake that I moved to Nashville TN. He told us that I needed to stay in PA with them and continue my sobriety at home. If youre reading this-- I did move to Nashville, I am still in Nashville, I have a husband and a beautiful 3 year old son and Im a licensed massage therapist and moving to Nashville was not a mistake, but the biggest blessing ever!!!!! Thank you for your concern, but to those out there struggling, reading reviews of this place and wondering if its the best for them or for their children the answer is yes. And if relocating after youve finished your time at rehab is what you think you need, then do it! Had I stayed in the Philadelphia area, I would be 6 feet under. Relocating to a nicer city where I still did have family (grandparents, aunt and uncle, cousins) was the best idea I have ever had and here I am 6 years later still in love with this place. Thanks to PFRC I am 6 years sober. Thanks to my counselors doubt, though he was great, I am 6 years still in Nashville and still in love with it. I took his doubt that it was a good idea and I ran with it and ultimately I proved to myself that sometimes, taking a big leap, taking a big risk, and relocating is actually the best thing for an addict!!! No bad memories are here, only good. Thank you PFRC, you all saved my life.