ABOUT SUMMIT OAKS
Summit Oaks Hospital, located an hour west of New York City in Summit, N.J., offers adult inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment for psychiatric and substance use disorders. Treatment integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with holistic programming, which includes creative expression and relaxation practices. Medically managed detoxification services are available.
The hospital, which was founded in 1902, accepts patients from across the country. Crisis-oriented, primarily psychiatric care is offered for children and adolescents, along with dual diagnosis for co-occurring addiction.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The assessment process at Summit Oaks can begin with a phone call, according to the facility’s website. Following detoxification, which involves buprenorphine treatment in some cases, clients seeking help for addiction and substance abuse are typically enrolled in a short-term residential rehab program or one of the hospital’s intensive outpatient programs (IOP).
Treatment plans combine an array of approaches, with an emphasis on groups and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). While working with 12-step concepts and meetings are supported, they are not required at Summit Oaks. Clients can expect to attend educational and counseling sessions addressing relapse prevention, anger management, and goal-setting. Among the recreational therapies offered are art, music, and yoga. Summit Oaks encourages meditation and mindfulness as well as participation in case management, which contributes to long-term recovery success.
There are several options for outpatient addiction treatment. At the most intensive level is a full-day partial hospitalization program, which meets Monday through Friday. IOP clients meet three evenings a week, during which clients have the option of specialized programming for dual diagnosis treatment and a choice between a 12-step-based and an alternative, medication-assisted (Suboxone) therapy track. Tracks meet for 10 to 12 weeks. Random drug testing is required.
The Summit Oaks website highlights the importance of aftercare and discharge planning. Related services include arrangements for clients to participate in community-based support networks and referrals for ongoing outpatient therapy. The website also mentions family and alumni programming.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
About half a dozen board certified psychiatrists are listed on the Summit Oaks website, specializing in forensic, addiction, and child and adolescent psychiatry. The treatment team also includes master’s-level psychotherapists, certified drug and alcohol counselors, a dietitian, and master’s level art therapists.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Summit Oaks is a 122-bed hospital with chemical dependency units split between detox, short-term rehabilitation, dual diagnosis, and child and adolescent. Specific unit bed availability is updated regularly on the facility’s website.
There are currently no further details regarding living arrangements or related offerings available on the hospital’s website. However, 16 individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date provided feedback that reflected moderate to low opinions. Metrics measuring general accommodations, meals and nutrition, and exercise and leisure activities each received average ratings of below 2.9 out of five stars. Faring more positively were the facility’s cleanliness and upkeep, which received a higher average rating of 3.9 stars from 10 contributors.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Opinions from 11 former clients polled by Best-rehabs.com were split about evenly between five who would recommend Summit Oaks Hospital to others and six who would not. An average rating of 1.9 based input from seven alumni presented a stark contrast to the facility website’s emphasis on holistic care.
The most common complaint was about a lack of individualized or extensive care. Limited opportunity for family participation was also cited as a weakness. Five of the six alumni asked to rate this aspect awarded just one star each and a representative reviewer wrote: “Cant get a hold of your luv one to much.” The second most common complaint centered on overly strict policies related to communicating with family and friends outside the facility; the related metric received an average rating of just 1.3 stars from six reviewers.
However, a majority of alumni reviews were generally positive about the staff’s level of training and experience, providing the highest average rating of three stars from the group for this metric. Two noted the value of some staff members being in recovery themselves. In her overall positive review, alum Stephanie reflected general agreement with others about the facility’s weaknesses, but concluded: “The staff is great, groups are very good and I got a lot out of them.” Others also praised the quality of groups and the caring staff. Nevertheless, two alumni found the staff irritable or uncaring and the average rating for effectiveness of treatment was just 2.6 stars, from 11 survey participants.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Feedback from seven friends and family members was split similarly to alumni reviews, with three positive and four negative. In contrast to alumni data, though, three polled more extensively by Best-rehabs.com offered highly favorable ratings for staff experience as well as holistic offerings and family participation. Two referenced positive long-term results following treatment at Summit Oaks, but one otherwise positive family member noted the need for more aftercare support and another more critical reviewer reported receiving no follow-up care. Treatment effectiveness received an average rating of 2.3 stars from six individuals.
Parents tended to complain of poor accommodations, communication problems, and under-staffing.
FINANCING
Although the Summit Oaks Hospital website does not publish any specific costs, it does indicate that the facility is covered in-network by most major insurance plans, and Medicare and TRICARE are accepted. The 10 individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com on the affordability of treatment granted an average rating of 2.4 stars.