Nix Specilaty Health Ctr.

I stayed here for a week I am 15 and I only saw the doctor once the whole week. I got sick and started throwing up and they refused to give me a trash can. I had to sleep with my shoes on because I was so cold and couldn't get another blanket. I hate it there so much! Don't send anyone there.

DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD!!!! I thought that I was admitting my daughter voluntarily at 5pm on a wed. I was told there was not a doctor on campus at that time to do an assessment and that one would be done in the am. I requested that the doctor contact me so that we could discuss treatment. The doctor NEVER called. The social worker called to "introduce" himself. He was unable or unwilling to talk to me about my daughters dignosis or needs. When I asked him what his qualifications for being a social worker at Nix were he then stated that this call was going no where and HUNG UP on me. After my child was there for 24hrs I demanded to have her discharged. At this time they stated that they did not consider this a vonintary admission. I still got her out AMA (against medical advise). No one could get the doctor for me to talk to, I asked to speak with clinical director instead they sent out a patient satisfaction consultant that was still unable to answer any questions, she could only appologize for the ruddness and unprofessionalism of her "social worker", Nix was unable to show me my daughters individdual treatment plan instead they gave my a generic care plan that is initiate by the nurses. I asked for the one that is generated by the MD. When my daughter was in the car with me she told me how the nurses wanted her to call me and talk me into allowing her to take medications. They wanted her to tell me that she felt that she needed them. My child has never needed psychiatric help before and this was a horriable introduction. To end the evening we did get a visit from child protective services as the hospital stated I was putting her in harm. I say Nix took my insurance money and did nothing to help or treat my daughter. We are getting help else where.

The Nix Mental Health Center is the worst mental health facility I have ever encountered. I signed a contract to be admitted for 48 hours after a mental health emergency. The contract stated that I would receive medical assistance within 24 hours and psychiatric assistance. I was detained for almost 5 full days against my consent, not because I was still in a crisis, but because the staff continuously ignored and neglected me and every patient there. The place was not safe. There were people harming themselves and others, and would then be allowed to mingle with the other patients. I was promised a social worker and a doctor who never once sought to make contact with me. After having an advocate on the outside raise hell about my bill of rights, I was finally able to get the attention of the staff and was then discharged quickly. None of the nurses, doctors, or social workers were helpful. All of them were rude and at times spitefully cruel to other patients. I never met my assigned doctor until my discharge, at which point he made the charming comment, "How did you manage to beat the system here? You must be clever. It is like Russia in there. I'm sure you will do fine on the outside." At other times the staff laughed at my requests to see a doctor or be provided with a copy of my patient rights (which they had me sign upon arrival and then immediately took away and placed in my inaccessible property bag.

Even the technicians (who have no real authority) commented on the fact that the place was frustratingly, improperly run. I will be filing a law suit regarding the neglect and mistreatment I encountered at this facility. Please avoid this place if you can. They are under-staffed and no one there knows their own policies or patient rights.

Do not go or send your child here. Thank God I was able to get my 17 year old son out of there after only 2 days. The nurses and aides are great, but beyond that this place sucks. Only two groups a day and all they talk about is how your day was. No teaching of coping skills or how to maintain on the outside. No programs on weekend. Only one 5 minute call home per day. Only 45 min visitation from 6pm to 6:45pm. He never saw his doctor, they have advocates that supposedly tell the doc how things are going. The one time he saw the doc, the doc said the advocate had not talked to him about discharge despite her basically promising him discharge today. I had to call about ten times today to finally get him out. I should say the advocate who always treated I and my son with respect, was out ill today. But there should have been better communication. Finally they keep the big kids in the same unit as the little kids like 5 year olds. My son said this was the worst psych hospital he had ever been to and he has been to several.