ABOUT ST. JOSEPH MERCY ANN ARBOR — BEHAVIORAL SERVICES
St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor is a teaching hospital offering a full spectrum of medical services, including inpatient and outpatient-based treatment for adults struggling with a primary mental illness. The facility also provides specialized outpatient programs dedicated to chemical dependency and co-occurring disorders. Outpatient programming for adolescents is also available, as well as gender-specific programming for women.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The inpatient program is a secure unit and is available for individuals aged 18 and older. Both voluntary and involuntary admissions are accepted, and according to St. Joseph Mercy’s website, all major mental illnesses are treated, including psychosis, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Clients are kept in active programming from 9:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Treatments include psychopharmacological interventions, individual psychotherapy, group counseling, and psychoeducation. The facility also offers discharge and aftercare planning, as well as family assessments and interventions.
A dedicated outpatient center offers a range of daytime and evening intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) for adults and adolescents (ages 12 to 17). The center’s outpatient programming for chemical dependency includes individual, group, and family therapy and addiction education.
When applicable, other services include medication reviews and dual diagnosis early recovery groups. The center also offers partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and general outpatient treatment for individuals struggling with primary psychiatric disorders.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to St. Joseph Mercy’s website, the hospital employs psychiatrists specializing with both children and adults, as well as licensed therapists, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners. To date, the three individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com on the matter all gave ratings of four out of five stars for the staff’s level of training and experience.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
St. Joseph Mercy boasts 340 acres of campus space and fits 537 beds, though it is unknown how many of those are dedicated to behavioral health patients. According to the 2016 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, St. Joseph Mercy is one of only nine percent of facilities in Michigan to offer PHP care.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The single alum to submit a review to Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing reported a positive experience with St. Joseph Mercy. Alum Amber indicated that she would strongly recommend treatment at this facility, rating the center four out of five stars for its treatment of co-occurring disorders. Yet she rated the facility two stars for its counseling options, holistic offerings, and exercise options. She described the hospital as “well staffed,” but added: “I wish it was more affordable so I could have been there longer.”
At the time of this writing, secondary review sites yielded mixed reviews of the hospital as a whole. Of 151 Google reviewers to date, a slight majority gave it positive reviews and offered an average rating of 3.5 out of five stars.
Of 42 recommended Yelp reviewers, 19 individuals gave the facility a negative review, three offered mixed review, and 20 gave positive feedback. Collectively, the 42 individuals offered an average rating of three out of five stars. Out of the 40 unrecommended Yelp reviewers, 30 gave the facility a negative review, one mixed, and nine positive.
In general, reviewers frequently praised the staff. “The staff really seems to understand the psychological benefits of being compassionate and kind in their care,” Katie wrote in a representative review on Yelp. Several former clients, however, questioned billing practices, while others criticized the professionalism of staff. Alum Jennifer wrote on Yelp: “The nurses and techs there don’t care at all and make fun of ‘psych’ patients.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The three loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided generally positive reviews. The two loved ones polled on various survey metrics indicated they would both recommend the facility, offering four- or five-star ratings for most of the 15 evaluated metrics, including its treatment of co-occurring disorders, the level of family participation, and its exercise and leisure options.
In commentary, two loved ones praised the group therapy, which one described as “engaging” and “well matched.” Loved ones also individually praised the medication education, facility safety, and aftercare planning. However, one loved one criticized the facility’s lack of structure between therapy sessions and poor prescription of medications for co-occurring disorders.
FINANCING
According to St. Joseph Mercy’s website, the behavioral health department accepts numerous insurances, including Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United, and Medicare. Two individuals polled on the center’s affordability both gave this aspect of the facility four-star ratings.
CONCLUSION
In February 2018, the University of Michigan, associated with St. Joseph Mercy Health System announced that the health system would affiliate with St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital to “provide leadership, nurses and staff and continue to oversee all hospital operations” as managing partner.