ABOUT HAMPSTEAD HOSPITAL
In operation since 1974, Hampstead Hospital is one of the 31 (48.4 percent) of N.H. mental health and addiction treatment facilities operated by a private hospital. Located less than an hour from Boston in the city of Hampstead and servicing individuals and families throughout New England, the hospital runs multi-phase residential (“Recovery Matters”) and intensive outpatient (“Quitting Time”) treatment programs for adults seeking addiction recovery. This is the state’s only hospital inpatient facility where medically monitored detox services are available.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Combining evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with a traditional 12-step recovery approach, the highly structured, three-phase, 10-bed “Recovery Matters” program can be accessed either as a referral or as a step-down from detox.
In an acute residential setting, Phase 1 aims to orient clients via medication and substance abuse assessments, initial family meetings, and meetings with clinical staff to determine treatment recommendations and goals. In this initial stage, clients are held to hospital grounds to limit distractions while in treatment.
Moving into Phase 2: Sub-Acute Rehabilitation and Partial Hospitalization with Overnight Boarding Option, men and women attend more than six daily group sessions that focus on addiction education, relapse prevention, men’s and women’s issues, and coping skills. With expanded privileges granted to them, clients attend off-site community meetings and activities. Psychiatric treatment and family involvement are also introduced here.
In the third and final phase, clients continue attending therapy sessions (now shortened to six hours on assigned days), and focus on their aftercare plans.
“Quitting Time,” the hospital’s cost-effective IOP track, features more therapy sessions over a shorter period. In addition to 12-step meetings, IOP clients attend educational and process groups designed to help them identify triggers and improve their relationship and communication skills. In addition, multi-family groups are held on Monday evenings.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to its website, Hampstead Hospital is staffed by board-certified psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, master’s level clinicians, licensed drug and alcohol counselors, and recreational therapists. Consulting physicians are available daily. The eight former clients and their loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com had positive feelings about the staff.
Staff’s level of experience and training: 4/5 stars
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The 111-bed hospital is set on more than 100 acres of wooded terrain and well-manicured grounds. In addition, the Recovery Matters program houses clients in a separate, very private 10-bed housing unit.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
To date, five former clients provided feedback about Hampstead Hospital to Best-rehabs.com. The feedback was somewhat positive. The alumni provided four out of five stars or higher for the program’s treatment effectiveness, accommodations and amenities, and meals and nutrition.
Three of the alumni found the counseling and group sessions “great” and “extremely helpful,” giving four out of five stars or higher for available counseling options. However, the other two alumni thought that the individual counseling was not as effective. One of these two alumni gave low ratings across the board, with just one star for staff’s level of experience and training, counseling options, family participation, and the admissions and discharge procedures.
Four of the alumni also provided lower ratings of three out of five stars or lower for the program’s holistic offerings and affordability, one of them noting as a facility weakness, “Need more off time activities,” and another wishing for “Extra things to do or other methods of treatment.”
On Google, the hospital as a whole received three out of five stars from 20 reviews to date.
The reviews seemed to be polarized based on treatment needs. Alum E.L. commented, “This is one of the best hospitals in the United States for children and adolescents on autism spectrum. Dedicated staff, knowledgeable doctors. Highly recommended.” However, alum Ella wrote, “Horrible Horrible place. I was drugged and considered killing myself there way too many times. Don’t waste your time and come here.”
The hospital received its best rating of 4.5 stars from 13 Facebook users, which the facility can monitor.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
To date, commentary and ratings provided by seven friends and family members were nuanced and mixed. The five loved ones polled on the facility’s level of family participation and whether or not they would recommend the facility gave high scores.
Family/loved ones are able to participate in treatment through facility programming: 4.4/5 stars
I would recommend this facility to a friend or family member who was considering treatment: 4.2/5 stars
The loved ones were divided on the quality of the staff and the program’s affordability. In writing, one anonymous loved one reported to Best-rehabs.com, “Halstead totally impressed me with the high level of patient care. You pay a premium compared to others in the area, but it is worth it.” Another anonymous loved one called the staff “intelligent, helpful and kind,” but felt that it was only great “for those who can afford it.” A less satisfied parent complained about the “zero tolerance working mentality of the staff” and how it created a negative atmosphere.
There are many counseling options to choose from depending on the client’s preference: 3.6/5 stars
Treatment is affordable and/or payment plans, scholarships, or financial assistance are available: 2/5 stars
Loved ones also noted concerns about the facility’s maintenance. One took up the discrepancy between the facility’s pictures and its actual state. “It looked much darker and less up to date on the inside than it did on the website,” they wrote.
The facility is clean and well maintained: 3.75/4 stars
WHAT STAFF SAY
Although Best-rehabs.com has yet to receive staff feedback to date, 3.7-average stars were generated from eight Glassdoor users.
These individuals expressed satisfaction with the facility and the treatment they have received as employees. One noted weakness, though, was the hospital’s for-profit operation. “Private/for-profit which leads to decisions made by upper management to be based on business model outcomes at the sacrifice of quality patient care,” one current staff member noted.
FINANCING
Hampstead Hospital works with an extensive list of private health insurances including Aetna, Cigna, Value Options, Anthem, and more. The hospital suggests that prospective clients call the admissions department for more information, as not all plans cover all services available. According to HealthGrove, Medicare and Medicaid are also both accepted.
[1]
https://goo.gl/2Qs4C8
[2]
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hampstead-Hospital/115773475110298
[3]
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Hampstead-Hospital-Reviews-E121943.htm