ABOUT WEST OAKS HOSPITAL
West Oaks Hospital in Houston, Texas, is a psychiatric facility operated by Universal Health Services, Inc., a publicly traded company and one of the largest behavioral health providers in the United States. Through inpatient, outpatient, and day treatment, West Oaks Hospital provides comprehensive care for mental health disorders, chemical dependency, or both, to people of all ages.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The admissions department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and initial individual assessments are free.
There are two main options for live-in treatment for substance abuse. The first is the facility’s inpatient program, which is part of the main treatment facility that addresses psychiatric disorders. There, clients can detox with 24-hour supervision or receive dual diagnosis treatment. The second option is the hospital’s Residential Treatment Center (RTC), which focuses on building the tools necessary for a sober life. The RTC utilizes 12-step principles, and clients participate in relapse prevention, life skills training, HIV and STD education, family therapy, and individual counseling, if appropriate. The average length of stay is 14 to 19 days.
West Oaks Hospital’s partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP) build off the concepts and structure of residential treatment. Clients in the PHP meet five days a week, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The IOP meets three hours a day in age-specific groups.
All clients who complete substance abuse treatment at West Oaks Hospital receive free aftercare for up to one year.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The hospital employs registered nurses, social workers, mental health technicians, and certified alcohol and drug counselors. The facility’s website indicates that the treatment team is “physician directed.”
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The RTC can house up to 20 clients. Photographs of the hospital published online show a playground, swimming pool, and a game room. Buildings are connected by outdoor walkways and overlook inviting green lawns.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
At the time of this writing, three alumni submitted reviews to Best-rehabs.com; two female alumni and one male alum responded. One female alum gave the facility five out of five stars for accommodations, four stars for treatment effectiveness, and three stars for meals and nutrition. The male client gave the same ratings as the female for treatment effectiveness and meals and nutrition but gave a three out of five stars rating for accommodations. The second female alum did not rate these features.
All three alumni were neutral when asked if the facility’s cell phone and visitation policy was fair; if the facility was clean and well maintained; and if there were many counseling options to choose from depending on the client’s preference. Regarding participation of family and loved ones in treatment through facility programming, the first anonymous alum agreed that family and loved ones were involved, the second client disagreed, and the third was neutral regarding this feature. When prompted if the treatment plan was affordable and/or payment plans, scholarships, or financial assistance were made available, one alum strongly agreed while the other two were neutral on this. Finally, two of the alumni were neutral and one alum agreed that the treatment was worth the cost.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Two family members have been polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing. One family member gave five out of five stars for the involvement of family in treatment. The other, a spouse/partner named T.R., had a loved one stay at the facility for 61 to 90 days, who was treated for dual diagnosis. T.R. gave the facility generally low ratings for all categories polled on, including two out of five stars for accommodations, exercise options, and the counseling options offered.
The anonymous loved wrote a strength of the facility as “They worked close with family & kept everyone informed during this family ordeal” and a weakness of the facility as, “Its an older building . i truly think it could be more effective if things were up to date, but i also understand funding.” When T. R. was asked for commentary about the facility, she wrote: “The facility is great…he is too far gone” in reference to the recovery of her spouse.
WHAT STAFF SAY
The sole staff member polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing was a full time employee at the facility and works in an executive/management role with a Master’s degree. The employee indicated that she does have direct contact with the clients in the facility.
The employee indicated that she would recommend the treatment facility if approached by a former patient who needed to re-enter treatment and stated, “Good enough in Houston area” but indicated that she would not recommend the facility to a friend or loved one or enter the facility herself.
FINANCING
West Oaks Hospital accepts insurance, according to its website, as well as Medicare, CHIPS, and Medicaid for clients under 21.