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Acute Inpatient Psychiatric

Acute Inpatient Psychiatric

Inpatient Treatment for Children

Laurel Heights Hospital is specifically designed to provide inpatient psychiatric stabilization and treatment for children age 6 and over. Some of the patients who receive psychiatric care at our facility present with comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder or other neurodevelopmental disorders, and our highly trained staff are uniquely qualified to help these patients get the compassionate, comprehensive care they need.

The primary objective of our inpatient psychiatric treatment is to quickly stabilize the symptoms that led to hospitalization, including severe self-injury, suicidal behavior and/or severe aggression. Treatment integrates psychiatric and applied behavior analytic interventions and strategies to stabilize symptoms and assist the patient in developing self-management and coping skills. This may include Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA), reinforcement-based interventions and the use of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP).

Our patients are closely supervised in a secure therapeutic environment. We help ensure that each patient gets the support they need by providing one direct care staff member for every two patients during waking hours.

For patients who require additional support, we incorporate individualized communication systems such as sign language, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS©) and assistive technology devices.

Our Multidisciplinary Approach

Comprehensive care begins with our highly skilled staff. Together, they provide your child with a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Our staff members include:

  • Board-certified child psychiatrists
  • Licensed therapists
  • Registered nurses
  • Board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA)
  • Certified recreational therapists

Admission Criteria

While the best way to determine whether our services are a fit for your child is to give us a call, the following are common criteria that lead to treatment at our hospital.

  • Imminent and significant risk of harm, including major aggression, suicidal behavior or self-harm
  • Diagnosis of a presenting psychiatric illness with a comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or related neurodevelopmental disability
  • Failure at other treatment levels, or a physician consultation indicating a condition that precludes psychiatric treatment in a less restrictive setting or at a lesser level of care
  • Symptoms and behaviors that require 24-hour monitoring and assessment

We’re Here to Help

Laurel Heights Hospital’s professional staff are ready to help find the best treatment options for your child. Call 404-888-5475 for a no-cost, confidential assessment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need immediate medical assistance, contact 911 or seek the nearest emergency room.