The goals of hospital inpatient care are many.
First,
hospitals endeavor to provide a clean, safe, medically-managed facility
for treatment. Stabilizing a patient’s acute symptoms is often
the foremost goal of the hospital staff, a task that can’t be
accomplished at a residential facility or outpatient program, as the
use of medications is often involved.
In a hospital environment, the patient can recover both physically and
emotionally, a step that’s important to full recovery. When all
acute symptoms are in check, hospital inpatient programs, not unlike
residential treatment programs, begin educating the patient about their
disease; for example, the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. A
daily schedule will probably consist of self-help and preparatory
counseling, motivational therapy on a group or individual basis, and
family therapy that includes spouses, children, parents, significant
others, and caregivers.
The main goal of hospital inpatient treatment, however, is to move the
patient towards a lesser level of care, such as an outpatient program
or support group. The length of time spent at an inpatient program will
vary with each individual. While there may be a standard
treatment duration set by a particular hospital, patients who are
deemed to be in danger of relapse or those who have not fully
cooperated with the program may need additional time to recover or move
to the next step.
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By: Exodus Posted: Dec 28 2005 03:50:18 AM