ABOUT SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE MEDICAL CENTER
Located in Nashua, N.H., about 50 miles north of Boston, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center (SNHMC) provides a full continuum of care for adults seeking treatment for psychiatric disorders, addiction, or co-occurring difficulties. The hospital runs a partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and short-term inpatient care.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
To diagnose the client’s condition and determine an appropriate level of care, clients may undergo an initial behavioral health assessment. If an individual requires psychiatric stabilization, they may be referred to the hospital’s inpatient program. The facility’s webpage lists PHP and IOP as appropriate treatment levels for substance abuse-related problems.
For those requiring stabilization, inpatient care consists of therapeutic group counseling, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy. As a hospital-based inpatient program, pharmacological intervention may also be utilized to minimize symptoms of specific mental health disorders. Once a patient is stabilized, they may be referred to a less-intensive level of care.
At the next highest level of care available, PHP addresses mood or anxiety disorders, as well as co-occurring substance abuse disorders through group counseling, education on addiction, and ongoing medication management. PHP sessions are held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, five to seven times per week, typically lasting five to 10 days.
While inpatient care and PHP are designed to treat individuals with primary psychiatric disorders or a dual diagnosis, the IOP track specifically work with clients seeking recovery from substance abuse. Over the course of 16 sessions held in a month-long period, IOP participants learn to recognize triggers and develop relapse prevention strategies throughout individual, group, and family counseling sessions. Upon completion of IOP, all clients are invited to attend peer-support based aftercare groups.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
SNHMC’s behavioral health unit employs a multidisciplinary team of board-certified psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, licensed substance abuse counselors, a social services staff, and behavioral health specialists experienced in occupational and recreational therapy.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
There is currently no information provided by SNHMC regarding its living arrangements and related offerings. The two alumni surveyed by Best-rehabs.com as of this writing rated its accommodations and amenities and meals and nutrition four out of five stars.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The two former clients approved of some aspects of SNHMC, though they were more critical in other areas. “Kept us from engaging in dangerous behavior but there was nothing to do and not much counseling,” one wrote. Admitted for an eating disorder, this alum added that “nothing was offered in terms of recreation.” The other alum wrote that the hospital felt “too restrictive,” but also that it “should have been more strict with visitors” to ensure patients’ safety.
On Google reviews, the hospital, as a whole, received a slightly-above average rating of 2.8 out of five stars from 96 individuals to date.[1] On the hospital’s Facebook page, which may be curated, the facility received an average rating of 3.7 out of five stars to date, with 125 of 241 reviewers rating the facility a perfect fie stars, though more of the recent reviews tended to be negative.[2],
FINANCING
SNHMC works with dozens of major insurance providers, NH Medicaid, and NH Medicare. For the uninsured and underinsured, financial assistance may be available in the form of charity care.
CONCLUSION
In March 2018, the New Hampshire Attorney General allowed for a merger between SNHMC and Elliot Hospital in Manchester to move forward.
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