Banner Behavioral Health Hospital | Scottsdale, AZ | Earll Dr. — Attraction in Scottsdale

I just spent 7 days here bcuz of my debilitating anxiety. I have to say that 5 stars isn't enough for the care and expertise I received!!! My care started at Triage. TRIAGE, within 15 mins of arriving, I was being evaluated by a nurse and crisis counselor. They were very thorough and sensitive to my complaints. They were also very surprised that my psychiatrist told me, "there is nothing more I can do for you," because they said there are definitely more treatment options to exhaust to treat me. They asked if I wanted to be admitted, and I said, "Yes, anything I can do to help myself." They also informed me that a bed wasn't available until tomorrow, and explained that I would be assigned a recliner in a large room with other patients. I agreed because I was desperate for help. Approx 10 mins later, I was in the back, getting prepared to enter the Observation Unit. OBSERVATION UNIT. I spoke with a Psychiatrist, BHT (Behavioral Health Tech), an RN, and a Case Worker that explained every aspect of my care and admittance into the unit. I was allowed to shower, eat, walk around, use the restroom, watch TV, use the telephone whenever I wanted, receive medication that began my treatment. It was difficult to relax due to my anxiety diagnosis, but I was offered medications, ordered by the Psychiatrist, but they didn't work well. Approximately, 22 hours later, I was moved into the one of the 2 adult inpatient unit's (there is 1 child 13-17 age inpatient unit's too). INPATIENT UNIT. All the inpatient units offer patient's a 2-bed room to share. The days are very structured and begin with vitals at 7am. Then there is breakfast, medications, an appointment with the Psychiatrist, morning "communication meeting" with a BHT. Then a "group' meeting. Following that is some "recreational time," then lunch (good food options). After lunch, there is more "rec time," followed by the afternoon "group" meeting. Then there is more "rec time" followed by dinner. After that is more "rec time" followed by the evening "communication meeting." Then there is "rec time" until bedtime. It's a very structured program that aims to resolve all your psychiatric needs while there. Some of the "rec time" included swimming, playing shuffle board, giant Jenga, and pool. Many other options were available on days other than the ones I listed above. Seeing the same Psychiatrist and Case Worker every day, really helps to solidify your treatment plan. Everyone was working hard to make sure I had positive results from my medication AND the communication and group meetings were helpful. I am super happy with the care I received all the way through discharge. DISCHARGE. Prior to discharge, the case worker, Psychiatrist, and RN were all on the same page. Any questions I had were easily answered by all of them. The Case Worker made sure I had a Psychiatrist to follow up with (and I already did have one). She made sure she had all the info on the followup treatment I agreed to attend. She even made follow-up appts with my doctor, and Psychiatrist. To say I was impressed was an understatement. All of my belongings were returned to me, including the medication that I was using during my hospital stay because it was not available at their in hospital pharmacy. When I left, I drove myself home because I drove myself to the hospital for help, I felt relieved....I received EXCELLENT CARE that led to medication changes and wonderful follow-up appointments that will help me overcome any obstacle my severe anxiety throws at me!!! Thank you BANNER for hiring such professional, competent, patient, understanding, and compassionate staff to help me during my stay. There aren't enough kind, but honest, words I can say to describe my treatment.

**ALSO, the adult units also care for detox and withdrawal patients, and patients that just want drugs to make them sleep all day or barbiturates to help keep their "high." If any of those patients choose to write a review, it may not be accurate. The staff are...

I'm posting under a pseudonym because I genuinely do not want anyone to be able to track me down for it.

I came to this facility when I was suicidal, and had attempted suicide. It had failed, and I was submitted to this hospital by my mother when she had found out I had chickened out of the procedure.

When I arrived, my mother was not informed that there would be no bed available for me at all. She was also not informed that the entire teenager unit was on lockdown because two boys had gotten into a fight earlier at dinner. I had arrived at midnight.

I was guided to a reclining chair that felt like literal concrete, and a small blanket. That was it. I was a fourteen year old at that time, and what happened next has given me genuine PTSD. I was awoken by someone shaking me, and trying to tell me that they needed to put the needle in me. They shoved it in without my consent, and had two other nurses restrain me.

I had never had a blood test before. I was petrified and I had no idea what was happening, and they told me to go back to sleep afterwards. Thanks.

The morning of, I found that the promised group therapy was nowhere in sight. I hadn't had a shower, because where they put me was literally just a lobby, and so I went up to the nurse there at the time and asked if I could take a shower before group therapy.

She glared at me from her computer, and told me to sit back down on the couch. If I talked again, I would be put in solitary confinement. The joke was on her, I literally was in it. I asked her why she was being so rude, and she just handed me a piece of paper with a dull pencil you use at IKEA.

"Your entire unit is being punished for a fight that happened last night. If you don't finish this, you can't eat." It was cruel and I started tearing up, saying that I wasn't even there for it, I was at home, but the staff didn't care.

The assignment was to write 2000 words on what I did wrong that led to the fight and how not to do it again. This was where I started bawling. I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone. Only when a psychiatrist came by, I found out she was a case manager, did I finally have a caring ear.

I started crying in front of this poor woman, saying I hadn't eaten because they wanted me to write about all the things I did wrong that led to a fight that I never even saw. She actually did something, and I had food for the first time in over twenty four hours.

It was something you had to cut with a knife. You weren't allowed to have knives. It got taken away before I could finish half of it. Try cutting something you need to cut with a knife with a goddamned spoon.

I had brought a book with me that was fairly sizeable that they held hostage because it was the "reason of my anxiety" because I said it was for school. I just wanted something to do that wasn't going to leave me alone with my thoughts, and they denied me that right.

They wouldn't give me a bed until the next day, and it was with a girl who had to sleep with all the lights on, resulting in me being unable to sleep. I ended up sleeping through my meal times and I wasn't allowed to have any food even if I begged for it from the staff.

Only when my mother, who was a banner nurse at the time bless her heart, stormed up to the front desk was I allowed to finally have food. It was a snack bag of Cheez-Its. A day and a half of improper or no eating, and that's what I got.

My mother became determined to drag me out of there when I had told her of everything. The third day was when I was actually given regular food, and therapy, but I still wasn't allowed outside until the end of the third day.

By the fourth, my mother had managed to pull me out of the hospital, and I went home by morning.

This hospital really doesn't care about whoever is admitted to it. They'll just copy and paste the same old "we're sorry, please tell us how to fix it :(" bs.

Fix your damn hospital by hiring people who aren't monsters and actually...

I thought that Valley Hospital was amazing, until I went to Banner Behavioral… then I realized Valley Hospital isn’t that great (just adequate). Please come here if you need help! The care here was more compassionate, the hospital is modern, there is SUNSHINE IN THE COMMON AREAS, there are more activities available to do in free time, you get a private room, there is caffeinated coffee in the unit, and THE BISCUITS AND GRAVY ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE… ASK ANYONE THERE, MOST PATIENTS AGREE. I GOT THEM EVERY MORNING.

There are a few items that I’d like to share, that I hope will convince you to pick this psych hospital. I care about people getting the help they need, so I hope this helps.

First, during my first night, I felt cared for. I had to stay in quarantine until my COVID test came back (I got there about 6 PM, and I was allowed out of my room by breakfast). Because of this, staff gave me lots of puzzles, paper to draw on, coloring pages, let me keep my pens (I wasn’t at risk of harming myself), a journal, a workbook, brought me a MECHANICAL PENCIL to draw with, and gave me a stress ball. I was anxious, and one of the nurses/techs offered me Chamomile Lavender tea and a sandwich/snacks. She also brought me extra blankets, because I was cold. I forget her name, but she was an older lady, and she was one of the best staff members there.

Second, the psychiatrists made sure I had a role in my treatment. They let me pick my medications, which I thought was amazing, because I’m a psychopharmacology major and it was fun practice. It also really validated that I understand my body, mind, and experiences, and I felt trusted. There was no medical gaslighting. Most of the patients in my unit agreed that these psychiatrists LISTEN. The psychiatrists also had an okay (but not perfect) understanding of Dissociative Identity Disorder. That is hard to find.

Third, again, the nurses and techs care. I’ve had several talk to me when I was struggling with anxiety, and they were proactive in solving any issues in the unit. One of my daytime nurses (I forget her name, but she always wears fashionable sneakers) was incredible, and another elderly lady that is a nurse was also amazing. Also, the one that gave me tea and blankets. One of the nurses/techs saw everyone in the unit enjoying a movie at night, and surprised us by making popcorn. I thought that was so thoughtful.

Finally, group and recreational therapy was amazing. Unlike Valley Hospital, this hospital lets us go outside to play sports, and has very fun art activities. We actually got sunshine. We also did yoga, and meditation here, which I love and helped so much. Group therapy made me feel validated in my experiences.

Overall, I was blown away by this hospital. There were very minor issues that occurred, however, that happens at every hospital. I think this hospital manages them best. Sometimes the food is wonky, and it’s super cold inside, but again, that is every psychiatric hospital you go to. You can actually see sunlight in all of the common areas, and you feel HUMAN. Several patients also said it’s as good as or better than Copper Springs. This place will actually help your mental health, instead of stabilizing you on medications and sending you away. Please come here if you are struggling. No one wants to go inpatient, but this was the right choice. Thank-you, 2 North and Banner, for helping me cope with my...