Texas Health Springwood Behavioral Health Hospital HEB — Local services in Bedford

This has taken me about a year to finally get the courage to write my experience here. I was put here as a patient for a suicide attempt last year in June. As I was put here in this place they proceeded to give me anti seizure meds that was for a different patient that has similar name (spelt differently). Me and this other patient had about a 30+ year age difference. And YES they had wrist bands with our names and QR codes, and they also had our photos with our profile. Yet they seemed to screw this up 3 days in a row. They even tried telling me that I need to take these meds that weren’t even mine for the duration of the other patients stay. The main “psychiatrists” on call didn’t even care to see who they were talking to. I learned more about the other patient (breach of HIPPA) than I would have liked too. The times I did see a “psychiatrist” It always seemed to reopen the mental wound. I had to tell them 6 times why I was there (on the first day/more) & tell them what was on my file. I’ve even been told “this isn’t in your file” yet they just bring a single sheet of copy paper to take as my “medical file”. Keep in mind this single sheet of copy paper had 6-7 other patients notes. I never knew what my care plan was. I was in the dark. The nurses knew NOTHING nor cared. (Some not all) the male “psychiatrist” that was assigned to me didn’t know what he was doing. He gave me half answers to what was going to happen to me. The only one that seems to care was the only female psychiatrist. (Forgot her name she was blonde, on the younger side real nice). She was the first one to sit down one on one. And ask me what’s going on and what she can do to make things better. And I’m forever grateful for her for being my voice on the outside making things right. I also had my medication that I always take (I have a vitamin B deficiency) that was medically diagnosed, and been taking for years. Then they decide that I’m no longer need this medication without telling me or warning me. I also told them that I have issues processing certain SSRI medication and it gives me bad reactions, and to look into my medical file for good fits that worked in the past… they didn’t look never did. The medication that they ended up giving me gave me severe paranoia and severe panic attacks, which they thought that they needed to give me more of the medication instead of giving me a therapist (that was supposed to be on call Monday-Friday) Another issue was that I was held against my will. They said that after 3 days I was able to sign a AMA. I’d did and they told me they “lost it” and I couldn’t remake it. That 3 day stay turned into a 6 1/2 stay, because they wanted to milk my insurance of $15K stay. (approx $2k a night) They ended up finding my AMA within the last hour of me staying. The lack of sunlight and outside time. The nurses (some not all) have said that they were too lazy to let us outside for the 1hour a day. Told us that we couldnt be far from the door. In case we scared the teen/kid section of the hospital. Soon found out they didn’t want us to go far and was too lazy to round up the 5 people that wanted to go outside. The 15 minute checks at night. As I don’t have an issue with it. Some (like 2/3 nurses were considerate) and closed the door after checking in. Some straight up slammed the doors or left it open because they didn’t want to use their key card to open it because it was “easier”. I also had an issue of a man (not is fault he was inpatient for a reason) almost come into my room (Because of the lazy nurses leaving them open) at 3 in the morning being extremely violent to the point of getting the booty juice. This traumatic experience made me sleep on the floor in my own home for 4 months in fear some nurses will come in, tackle me and give me the booty juice. I’ve also been sexually harassed by 3 men… and they did nothing nor cared that other patients were getting aggressive with others

This experienced enhanced my PTSD. Now I’m more scared to ask my mental help. We DO NOT belong in cages...

I dont even know where to start with this review. This has been a living nightmare for my family. Let me start at the beginning. My family member had abdominal pain and took pain medication and took a sleeping pill to try and sleep it off. Well they had a bad chemical reaction went to a bad place. This is somebody that has never suffered from depression or had any mental illness so they voluntarily checked their self in at Springwood being told they could leave anytime they wanted. This was Thursday night. By friday they decided this was not a good place for them and filed papers to leave. Well the Dr Kohn said no and put a 24hr hold on them BUT here is the catch. The 24hr hold is only good if court is open the next day and this was friday so the 24hr hold last till monday AND its Christmas so court is closed monday and Tuesday so the 24hr hold is now 6 day hold. They are using a loophole to hold my family member against their will for 6 days. I have tried for 2 days to talk to the Dr Kohn for a reason why and have been given the run around. I ask for a hospital administrator and was told to call a number on the wall. I had to go to the ER and beg and fight to speak to someone in charge. I explain this is not a good fit. I explain there's no history of depression or mental illness with this person. I explained it was a medication reaction. Explain there's a support system at home and they have already found another psychologist to go talk to. At this point hospital security was standing behind me and was told someone will call me. They will tell you that they can make phone calls but what they dont tell you is there is only one working phone the other one is broke and the one that works is all static and cuts out about every 3rd word. They will tell you it's patient rights to have time outside 3 times a week but they say there is lawn equipment outside so they get no outside time. When I went for visitation there was a palm size amout of blood on the floor. I brought this to the attion of a employee and they said "it will get cleaned up later". When my family member first got there they put somebody else's name tag on them which is how they determine who gets what medication. Luckily by family member caught this before they gave them meds. They have cameras in all the rooms but still come in every 15 mins with a flash light in your face to check you "to make sure everyone is still breathing" then slam the door shut. It has now been 3 days no sleep for them. The dr only sees you once a day for less then 10mins. There are 2 group sessions a day and the rest of the day they have you coloring, doing puzzles and have Kubo on the Tv like your childeren in daycare. If you dont have a mental illness you will feel like you do by the time you leave this place after no sleep and no outside time and no grasp of time. This has been a living nightmare for them and being held against your will with no court order, no rights and not allowed to leave to be with your childeren for Christmas. Its heart breaking and I hope this review saves someone else the pain of going through this. I have conversations recorded and I'm sending them to a investigative reporter that has already been reporting on psych wards holding people against their will. I am also having to seek legal help to get this matter handled which have been told already "its just about collecting ins money" (which our doctible is $500 a day and buy the second day they had already bill my instance for 6 days) so they can stay open and keep the cash cow going. Update: We tried to have them moved to another Hospital and Dr Kohn blocked it. I have also found out the UTI diagnosed last Thursday still has not been treated with medication and now is in server pain. My family memeber filled all the paper work for me to get information and records and I am still being denied. It has been 4 days now still no call backs from Dr Kohn or administrators. When I asked for a copy of the A.M.A. she filed friday to be released they gave me a blank...

[scroll down for survival tips lol]

I loved Springwood, and I highly recommend. I was admitted to the in-patient program while adjusting to new medications. It was my first time ever being admitted to an in-patient facility. I spent just over 7 days with them. The staff is very friendly and supportive overall (you'll figure out fast what staff members don't care/are unapproachable). Some of my favorite staff was Virginia (rec therapist), Taylor and Chris (social workers), and Katie and Elida (both techs). There are more staff members who were just excellent, but I can't remember their names. I didn't have a nurse I didn't like. All of them were sweet and understanding and took the time to learn my name and do an authentic check-in. I would recommend Dr. Tajani as well for a psychiatrist. I was very thankful to be somewhere safe. I also participated in their out-patient program, PHP. The therapists (Leslie and Tiana) are wonderful and awesome at instigating processing. If you do the in-patient program, I would recommend PHP once you're discharged. It's very helpful.

Your complete guide for the psych ward: They confiscate your phone. You can write down phone numbers during the check-in process to call from a phone in-unit. Your mornings are busy, but you're allowed to sleep in. Breakfast and coffee at 8 (grab it then because it's decaf only for the rest of the day) and then groups up until lunch. Your evenings will get boring. Nurses don't pass out meds until around 9pm or after, but there's not a lot to do after lunch. You will have free time. To combat this boredom, attend groups when they have them and pack a paperback book (no hardcover, no prongs or spirals). Pencils are provided by the nurses (you cannot bring your own) and the therapists will give you journals. Grab two towels when you shower because the shower is open, and you will get water everywhere. I liked to lay my extra towel down on the side facing the sink. You can ask techs (grey suits) for water or snacks at any time. They have turkey sandwiches, lays, doritos, scooby snacks, muffins, ice cream, skinny pop, goldfish and more. You can have visitors but only on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30 to 8:30 or Saturdays between 4:30 and 5:30. You can have up to an hour with two visitors (no minors allowed) or a half hour with two sets of visitors (4 people total). You will get sick of the cafeteria food. It Is what it is. Ask for snacks or let your doctor on site know that you have dietary restrictions, and you can get better food. It will be okay. As the nurse told me on the first night I got there, This is the safest place you can be. I really believe that.

Hopefully this was helpful!! These are all things I wanted to know ahead because I had a lot of anxiety about being admitted, but my experience was overall really positive, and it takes a lot to step up and get help, so know that you're doing the right thing. Trust...