ABOUT ALLINA HEALTH – UNITY HOSPITAL
Allina Health’s Unity Hospital recently merged with Mercy Hospital and now is known as Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus. In operation for more than 50 years, the organization provides comprehensive treatment for individuals and families throughout Minneapolis. Services include evidence-based inpatient and outpatient tracks for adults struggling with substance abuse and dual diagnosis mental health disorders. There is also specially-tailored programming for older adults, placing this facility amongst the just 86 (23.2 percent) of facilities in Minnesota to offer geriatric services.
Additionally, Unity Hospital is one of the only three (0.8 percent) hospital inpatient facilities in the state to have detox available on-site, and those requiring immediate attention have access to the hospital’s around-the-clock emergency department.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
With medical stabilization cited as its primary goal, inpatient substance abuse programming supports residents through a 24-hour nursing staff in a closed unit. While in treatment for 10 to 28 days, residents learn the first five of the 12 Steps, attend addiction education sessions, and develop aftercare goals.
For those with less severe concerns, the hospital offers a number of outpatient programs. Available both day and night, highly-structured intensive outpatient (IOP) groups meet 12 hours each week, for up to seven weeks, followed by six weeks of aftercare programming. The relapse prevention track, which is designed for individuals who already have undergone treatment, holds group meetings three times per week. Whether in treatment for their first time or not, outpatient clients are encouraged to be joined by their families.
The Geriatric Psychiatry Program is geared for adults 65 years of age and older whose ailments include dementia, depression, and stroke. In support of their social and emotional well-being, clients participate in various therapeutic recreational and occupational activities.
At no additional charge, families are invited for a four-part education lecture series on addiction. Each week, licensed professionals discuss topics such as addiction symptoms, familial expectations, and the recovery process.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The large clinical staff consists of a medical doctor, registered and licensed practical nurses, licensed and board-certified alcohol and drug counselors (CADCs), social workers, and other highly qualified professionals, as 99.2 percent of Minnesota treatment facilities have higher education requirements for staff. The three individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date all awarded four or five out of five stars for the staff’s level of experience and training.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The 24-bed hospital unit hosts residents in semi-private rooms filled with natural sunlight. The on-site cafeteria provides healthy meal options seven days a week as well as hotel-style room service during daytime hours.
The interfaith chapel is a quiet space filled with prayer books and other religious materials. Smoking is not permitted and nicotine cravings assistance is available.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The two alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing each shared various praises and critiques for this facility. Both were pleased with the quality and experience of the staff, one alum listing “nurses” as the facility’s major strength, and the other writing “Staff” for this category. Despite also noting that the facility was “Good for detoxing,” one alum wrote that the hospital was “like jail,” and gave low, two-star ratings for many other categories such as holistic offerings, counseling options, admissions & discharge procedures, and family participation.
The other former client reported to Best-rehabs.com that the program “worked well for me” and gave four out of five stars to counseling options, but expressed similar disappointment in the holistic activities. Both alumni gave low ratings to the center’s ability to treat co-occurring disorders, and while one noted that the program was worth the cost, the other remarked that it was not.
On Yelp, seven users to date have generated a low, two- out of five star rating for Unity Hospital as a whole.[1] Though no one commented upon the behavioral health unit in particular, the common complaints revolved around poor-quality care and an inability to get the help that was needed. In the “not recommended” review section of Yelp, these same criticisms surfaced, with one representative review reading, “Long story short they only care about Money not your Health.”[2] However, a few users did express gratitude to the “thorough” doctors and the “wonderful” nurses.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The single loved one polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave perfect five-star ratings to nearly every survey category, including overall treatment effectiveness, the level of family participation, the center’s visitor and connectivity policies, counseling options, its treatment of co-occurring disorders, and whether or not the program was worth the cost. “Great results and outpatient treatment as well as in-patient,” this loved commented, providing five out of five stars when asked if they would recommend this treatment facility to others.
WHAT STAFF SAY
Though Best-rehabs.com has yet to receive feedback from facility staff, 393 employees of the hospital as a whole produced a 3.6-star average on Glassdoor.[3] “Amazing culture, excellent executive leadership team – they keep you informed and treat and value their staff,” one representative, pleased employee reported.
FINANCING
The center accepts major private insurances such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cigna. Financial assistance is also available for those in need. Three individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave mixed feedback about the facility’s affordability, offering a five-, a four-, and a two-star rating.
[1] https://www.yelp.com/biz/unity-hospital-fridley
[2] https://www.yelp.com/notrecommendedreviews/unity-hospital-fridley
[3] https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Allina-Health-EI_IE2822.11,24.htm