COVID-19 Information & FAQs
Silver Hill Hospital is accepting new patients for its inpatient, residential and outpatient (virtual) services and urges those who are struggling at this stressful time to call its Admissions Office at (866) 542-4455. The safety of our patients, visitors, and staff is our top priority as we continue to provide life-saving treatment during this time of crisis.
Here is some important information to know about Silver Hill Hospital during the COVID-19 crisis:
- All prospective patients are thoroughly screened in a four-step process: by phone before arrival, by phone on the day of admission, in the parking lot upon arrival and in the Admissions Building
- Silver Hill Hospital continues to deliver high-quality psychiatric and addictions treatment
- All patients and staff are now required to wear masks when around others
- Housekeeping staff maintains infection-control cleanliness at all facilities
- Visits from families are held virtually rather than in person
- Patients have little to no contact with patients outside of their own unit or house
- Our protocol is to isolate patients with symptoms of COVID-19 from other patients
- Staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of the virus do not report back until cleared per CDC Guidelines
- Silver Hill Hospital recently acquired a large quantity of protective masks
- A portion of Silver Hill employees are working from home to minimize the number of people on its campus
- Employees who are on campus take their temperature twice a day and track any potential symptoms
How does Silver Hill continue to treat patients effectively despite COVID-19?
Silver Hill’s clinical leaders meet daily, 7 days a week, to ensure that all patients have the care they need. Nurses and residential counselors are on campus 24/7 to provide in-person support. Board-certified physicians provide in-person and virtual sessions. Therapists provide virtual therapy and social workers conduct virtual and/or telephonic family sessions.
What Intensive Outpatient Programs are you currently offering?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Silver Hill transitioned all of its outpatient IOP programs in March to virtual groups. We currently offer 8 virtual Intensive Outpatient Programs. They consist of:
- 2 Adult DBT groups
- 1 Young Adult DBT group
- 1 Adolescent DBT group
- 1 Women’s group
- 3 Dual Diagnosis groups
We continue to accept referrals for all Silver Hill IOP groups. Our virtual groups consist of three 45-minute groups that meet three times a week and include one weekly check-in. Medication management and individual therapy sessions are available for Dual Diagnosis patients who do not have outpatient providers.
What happens if a patient tests positive for COVID-19?
The patient is isolated in a building separate from other patients and monitored by staff in full PPE (personal protective equipment.) If the symptoms are severe, the patient is transported to a nearby medical hospital. If the symptoms are not severe, the hospital and the patient’s family would discuss the possibility of the patient returning home.
What are the details of Silver Hill’s admission screening process?
Prior to arrival, prospective patients are asked these questions, twice—while scheduling their admission and on the morning of their admission appointment:
- Do you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath or any other respiratory symptoms?
- Have you or someone you live with been in contact over the last 14 days with someone who has developed fever, cough, shortness of breath or any respiratory symptoms?
- Have you or someone you live with been in contact over the past 14 days with anyone who has since tested positive for COVID-19?
- Have you been self-isolating? How frequently are you leaving your home?
- Have you been in any public place (for example sports venues, parades, festivals, concerts) with a gathering greater than 5 people in the last 14 days?
Upon arrival at Silver Hill, prospective patients are asked the same set of questions and have their temperature taken in the parking lot of the Admissions Building. Finally, patients are further evaluated for potential COVID-19 exposure and symptoms inside the Admissions Building.
Have any staff members or patients tested positive for COVID-19?
Yes, there have been several staff members and patients test positive for COVID-19. All staff and patients who may have had contact with these individuals have been informed. The staff members concerned were not symptomatic at work and have recovered after experiencing mild symptoms at home. We have isolated the COVID positive patients.
How is Silver Hill monitoring the patients who have been in contact with a staff member or patient who has tested positive for COVID-19?
Those individuals are notified and monitored closely.
Do patients still interact in common areas and group sessions?
Patients are only with people from their own house and program. Common areas are larger areas shared and patients and staff wear masks practice social distancing, as recommended by the CDC. There are still group sessions in large spaces with appropriate distancing and everyone wearing a mask.
As the outpatient program is currently virtual, can the 28-day residential program be extended to provide more in-person treatment?
Yes. Even under normal circumstances, patients sometimes extend their TLP stay if clinically appropriate and Silver Hill staff believes the patient will benefit from extra time in the program.
What about family support groups?
Regular clinical family sessions are mostly virtual or by phone. Silver Hill is working on a plan to allow for more virtual family support groups. Silver Hill also provides weekly virtual Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills group sessions for family members of River House (adult DBT), K-House (adolescent) and intensive outpatient DBT patients.
Can patients socialize with other patients?
Although Silver Hill does not allow patients to go on outings or to socialize in larger groups, it has provided iPads for patients in different programs to connect with one another. Silver Hill also provides social opportunities for those residing in our TLP houses, such as house-specific outdoor BBQ’s, where patients can socialize at a safe distance and while wearing a mask.
Is the gym for patients at Silver Hill Hospital still open?
The gym remains open to provide wellness and fitness support as good physical care is essential to stress management. The gym equipment is cleaned thoroughly every day and after each use.
Is the library still open?
The library remains open to provide patients with reading materials for recreation and education, as well as to provide access to computers and printers.