What to Expect

Patient Experience

Inpatient stay

Patients will participate in a wide range of assessments, evaluations, group activities and therapies, provided by an inter-disciplinary team that may include masters-level behavioral health clinicians, nurses, recreational therapists, occupational therapists, dietician, discharge planners and social workers. They may also receive psychiatric care, medical care, medication management, social work services and discharge planning.

Arbour Hospital offers a robust daily schedule of evidence-based groups that typically includes:

• Morning and evening hygiene
• Three warm meals and periodic snacks
• Psychosocial group therapy
• Therapeutic activity groups
• Nursing education groups
• Processing, goals and education groups
• Opportunities for self-reflection, journaling, physical activity, outside breaks and socialization

Patient rights

Patient rights are posted throughout our patient care areas and a detailed copy is available upon request. These patient rights are published in Massachusetts General Law Ch 123, §23 and apply to patients in hospitals licensed by the Department of Mental Health, such as ours. The Massachusetts Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, established by the Massachusetts legislature in 1973, has identified six fundamental patient rights:

1. Right to reasonable access to a telephone for confidential calls.
2. Right to send and receive sealed, unopened mail.
3. Right to receive visitors of own choosing at reasonable times.
4. Right to humane and dignifying environment.
5. Right to access legal representation.
6. Right to reasonable outdoor access.

Communication

Patients are allowed access to a free-of-charge telephone to call loved ones but they must determine who may communicate or visit them. The patient will be given an identification number during the admission process, which can be shared with loved ones they wish to allow to visit or call.

Visitation

Please refer to our Visitor’s Information page for up-to date information on visitation.

What to Bring

To foster a safe and therapeutic environment for patients and staff, Arbour Hospital has implemented room and personal search policies, including an identification of personal items allowed or prohibited within the facility. If you have further questions, please call 1-833-2ARBOUR.

Patients are encouraged to bring the following items:

• Three to five changes of clothing (washers and dryers available)
• Glasses, contacts, hearing aids and related supplies
• Basic toiletries and grooming
• Slip-on shoes and/or non-slip socks
• One set of warm outerwear
• Appropriate undergarments and sleepwear
• List of medications with dosages
• C-PAP if applicable
• List of allergies

Patients may not bring the following onto the unit:

• Alcohol or alcohol-based products
• Outside food and drinks
• Personal electronic devices
• Cell phones
• Shoelaces, drawstring pants or drawstring hoodies (strings will be removed)
• Any clothing with inappropriate logos or designs
• Sharp objects including picture frames, knives, nail clippers, tweezers, sewing needles, wire or metal bound notebooks and glass vases
• Nail polish and remover
• Lighters, matches and lighter fluid
• Disposable razors
• Money over $20
• Credit cards and checkbooks
• Pillows and bed linens
• Hangers
• No metal cases, containers or objects
• Hair dryers (each unit will provide a hair dryer)