My experience with the Adolescent Pavilion at LIJ was horrendous at best. In the ER, my mother was told that since I was a voluntary admit, I could begin to discharge at any time. The next day when I told my parents that I wanted to leave, they told us that my mother would have to write a letter and wait 72 hours until I could leave, even with another treatment plan already in place. \r
My bed moved every day that I was there, first I was in a double, then I had four other roommates and when one was discharging, i was given her bed before she had actually left. I was denied medication 4 times, and I had to wait 6 hours for tylenol.\r
When I had problems with the way I was being treated I was not allowed to call my parents if it was past calling hours. I did not find out until curfew that my melatonin supplement for sleeping had been discontinued. At this time my doctor had left and the night doctor would not permit the nurses to give me the supplement. I was not allowed to call my parents, I was not informed until the change was already made, and the change was made based on misinformation. I was treated worse than a prisoner. I was denied rights listed on the hospital's own website and covered by the law. \r
I was informed that I would be busy, but instead I often found myself sitting alone talking to others about how bored we were and how we could not wait to leave. The ""school"" included books I had read in third grade and coloring. I had no therapy during my stay.\r
From the Tuesday night that I got there until the Friday afternoon that I left, I was never outside of the building. Some were able to go to gym everyday for an hour, but that was the only exposure to sunlight. The windows were small and covered, and everywhere we were reminded that we were locked into this building. The building was dim and we had to spend about two hours of quiet time in our dark rooms.\r
I would not doubt that I came out worse than I went in. I cannot recommend this facility in any way.
Pros: Once you get out you feel a whole lot better because you're not trapped anymore.
Cons: poor treatment, denial of rights, not helpful, feel trapped, nothing to do, discourteous staff.
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