ABOUT ANCHOR HOSPITAL
Anchor Hospital is one of two hospitals operated by Southern Crescent Behavioral Health System in Georgia. The Atlanta facility offers inpatient treatment for adults and adolescents struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Services include medical detox and specialized care for U.S. military members and veterans.
Of Georgia’s 314 treatment facilities, about one-quarter offer veteran-specific programming, and just 43 (13.7 percent) tailor programming for active duty members. While outpatient programming is available for adults, youth are referred to Crescent Pines in Stockbridge.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Clients seeking support for substance use disorders undergo an integrated psychiatric evaluation to determine if dual diagnosis treatment is appropriate.
Anchor Hospital employs a 12-step approach at every level of addiction treatment programming. Clients do step-work and attend various psychotherapy and education groups. Treatment also features expressive therapy, including music and art, along with participation in a mirror image program in which Anchor clients interact with clients from Atlanta’s Talbott Recovery who are in more advanced stages of recovery. Families are encouraged to be involved in their loved one’s treatment and planning, according to the Anchor Hospital website.
Outpatient treatment includes a partial hospitalization program (PHP) with supportive housing, an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and aftercare in the form of ongoing outpatient treatment.
Among the treatment modalities practiced in Anchor’s military and vet-specific programs are narrative exposure therapy (NET), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the facility’s website, treatment teams are led by a psychiatrist or addictionologist. Other staff include certified expressive therapists, nurses, social workers, substance abuse counselors, and psychologists.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Anchor Hospital has 122 beds. There is currently no further information provided by the facility regarding its living arrangements and related offerings; however, the nine individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com on distinct aspects of accommodations were fairly critical of two out of three metrics measured.
Cleanliness: 3.75/5
Meals and nutrition: 2.5/5
Exercise and leisure activities: 2/5
One family member expressed concerns with a lack of security, and more than half of 16 alumni complained explicitly about food and/or a dirty facility in reviews submitted to Best-rehabs.com.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Of the 16 alumni reviews received by Best-rehabs.com to date, three were positive, one moderate, and 12 (75 percent) negative. Rude staff was the most common complaint; more than 60 percent of former clients reported feeling ignored or belittled, with limited access to treatment professionals. Countering this were five out of six alumni polled more extensively, who cited staff or therapists as facility strengths.
Staff’s level of training and experience: 3.3/5
Alumni tended to agree on the limited scope of treatment at Anchor Hospital, with one complaining of too much leisure time and too little one-on-one or group therapy. Nevertheless, despite overall critical opinions, most reviewers indicated that their program was at least moderately successful.
Treatment effectiveness: 3.2/5
Counseling options: 2/5
Holistic offerings: 1.2/5
Elsewhere on the internet, alumni offered predominantly negative feedback for Anchor Hospital. On Google, 62 individuals contributed to an average rating of 1.8 out of five stars for the facility. Reviewers agreed with the trends on Best-rehabs.com. In a representative review, A.F. wrote: “It was dirty. There was no ‘therapist’ as promised.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Ten loved ones submitted reviews to Best-rehabs.com for Anchor Hospital, only two of whom would recommend the program to others. One-third reported poor communication between the facility and family members. A third also supported alumni complaints of rude or disinterested treatment. However, the three polled specifically on the staff’s level of training and experience awarded four and five stars. A metric measuring family participation garnered ratings of three, four, and five stars.
Family members on Google concurred with most weaknesses cited by Best-rehabs.com reviewers. Similarly, all six loved ones who submitted reviews for Anchor Hospital to Yelp awarded just one star apiece. Their complaints covered safety concerns, poor communication, and long waits to access treatment.
WHAT STAFF SAY
Feedback from staff members was in line with alumni and loved ones. On Indeed, 31 individuals contributed to an average rating of 2.7 out of five stars. Employees tended to characterize the facility’s setting as chaotic, although several did note that co-workers were helpful. Reviewers also expressed a sense of value in helping clients recover. Fourteen Glassdoor reviews, averaging 1.8 out of five stars, agreed on all points, tending to highlight heavy caseloads and understaffing, making effective treatment difficult.
FINANCING
Anchor Hospital in Atlanta accepts TRICARE, Medicaid, Medicare, and several commercial insurance policies, according to the facility’s website.
CONCLUSION
As reported in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and other regional and national news coverage, a minor patient was raped by another patient at Anchor Hospital in 2017. A lawsuit asserted the assault was due to understaffing and this followed a 2014 Georgia Department of Health and Human Services investigation of insufficient nursing staff coverage. None of the news stories at the time included statements from the facility, nor does the Anchor Hospital website address the issue.