Fremont Hospital — Local services in Fremont

I am a current patient under the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Fremont Hospital. I’m leaving this review purely to give back as the Outpatient Program has helped me make so much personal progress.

This program is well run and professional, and I would recommend it to anyone who needs it. After the first month of my treatment, I was in such a bad place that I told them that “this is the worst treatment program”, but I am willing to say I was wrong. I wasn’t looking for the good, so I didn’t see it at the time.

The good is a Director that is willing to personally reach out and speak with you to better understand the issues, and make the improvements afterwards. It’s also a therapist that is willing to call you on a Friday evening to give you an alternative to wanting to discharge. Therapists that are willing to write a psych evaluation for you in a timely manner. I would name specific therapists, but they are ALL great in their own ways. It’s the way that they come together to give patients treatment that makes the Outpatient Program so beneficial.

I have witnessed great communication between all the Human’s that work for this program. It is also very easy to communicate with the therapists and with the front desk staff. The front desk staff care just as deeply for the patients as anyone else and they are very easy to contact and speak with.

The Intensive Outpatient Program offers treatment either: In-Person, Remote, or Hybrid.

My final comment is that the Outpatient Program can help you. Allow yourself to be helped and they will guide you, with care, to a better mental state. I recommend the IOP at Fremont Hospital because they are capable of helping you take control of your life.

2nd Review

This is an update for my experience with the IOP. I'm writing this because there are 4 specific humans that work with this program that amaze me: Lydia, Andrea, Peter, and Beth. They have stood out to me as the highlights for what this program is about and what it offers.

Lydia is such a strong therapist and it truly amazes me with how much she is able to put on her shoulders. She is super empathetic and has a very sharp, curious mind. She encourages creativity with skills groups and tries to bring out the individuality of everyone. She is all about openness and willingness, and I think that's what makes her very great at what she does.

Andrea is simply brilliant. From what I have witnessed, she has a deep understanding of psychology and it shows in her skills groups. She's able to make a lot of topics fun and interesting to think and learn about. She also has this ability to push people toward healing with grace, which I think is due to her immense care for each patient. She does her work with extreme professionalism and is always giving her best every single day.

Peter has a special way with words and comes into sessions with lots of wisdom. He has a way to connect with everyone and makes you feel less alone in the world. He has a way to take serious topics and lighten them to be much more bearable and easy to handle during sessions. His curiosity to understand each patient allows him to come up with amazing advice. It truly has been an honor to witness him in action.

Beth is a mind and body specialist. She knows so many valuable techniques on how to become grounded and present within one's body. I enjoy every CBT session with Beth and she has taught me so many techniques that I use on a regular basis. I've also witnessed her compassion for patients and her willingness to come up with solutions to cater to a patient's direct need.

Although I am not done with my treatment here at Fremont Hospital. I know that these 4 people have made my time here unforgettable. I will never forget how these 4 humans have impacted my life. In fact, I believe in my heart that I could not be the person I am today without them. I genuinely owe them my life and I am happy to admit that. If you are doing your treatment with the IOP, and run into one of these 4, just know you are in good hands. It is a privilege...

I am giving this place a two star, I just got my son (16) out of this horrible facility. Bear with me if your loved one is here you need to know the psychiatrist is shady here. I’ only gave this place 2 stars because most of their counselors (people who monitor and do classes with the teens) were amazing to my son and made him feel like a person. He said there’s people there who act like it’s their job and people who act like it’s where they want to be. As good as most of these individuals were, it doesn’t make up for the psychiatrist that works there (I’ll get her name soon) . She was rude to me when I wanted to google the medication she was trying to give my son, made me feel like a bad parent for even second guessing her. I visited my son 3 days after and he had dilated pupils and was acting worse than when I sent him off. He was also blank and very dark. I had never seen him like that in his whole life. I immediately asked he be off the meds and only given melatonin. She told me I was over reacting and that I’m basing my decision on emotions (fair enough) but what I didn’t like is that she told my son I was selfish for taking him off of the meds. I felt there was a better way to go about that. Then my son calls after being 2 days off the meds, acting normal again and saying he’s starting to feel emotions again. He kept saying that anytime he says he feels better the psychiatrist tells him that he isn’t. Come the day he was supposed to be released she says my son asked to stay to get more time in the classes they provide for coping. The thought these classes could be done outside of the hospital and felt she should have mentioned that to him before saying sure he could stay (it’s not a housing). Insurance calls Monday asking for his safety plan and discharge papers and I told them he’s still there and they were confused. I told them I do want my son back but he seems so impossible to get. Since day one of my sons 51/50 that lasted 7 days. I called to make sure he ate, slept and just to see how active he was being in classes. I always had a good report, never had a bad one. Come Tuesday (after I already called for Sunday’s& Monday's update) and they said he was doing good., they tell me my son said he was suicidal and I was shocked bc that’s not the info I was given prior. I had talked to my son the night prior and he was saying how he can’t wait to come home so I was confused and called him later and asked “hey did you say you felt or feel suicidal “ and he said no and assured me he didn’t say that . He even said but mom even if I did feel that way I would have lied bc I need to get out of here. I confront them and say my son is giving the same story I got a day prior but not sure how the story is changing and they are saying they can keep him 2-3 more days!!! It was a fiasco and I did raise my voice and eventually got the news he was coming home the next day. I am happy I am! But if he was suicidal why did you let him come home?? Shouldn’t you have kept him? So either she isn’t doing her job or she lied (for whatever reason) about my son saying that. What she planned on doing or getting out of it idk but one thing is I’m glad I fought for my son. As he sits here smiling and drinking his sprite I know it’s going to be a journey for us, but home is where he needed to be after day 3! I thank the counselors for caring for my son, and knowing exactly who he was when I asked about him and just being able to tell me everything I needed to know. My Son is truly grateful for the services and the lessons he was taught. He complained about the psychiatrist from day 1 but I wanted to see good. I wish I listened sooner. She made this harder on my son and us as a family . We trust these professionals with our kids and to see one trying to turn him against us was wild. And she wanted him there longer?? Just weird. I’m glad my son could see through her and I pray for any child who can’t. Mamas be careful . Yes my son gained knowledge from this hospital and it would have been great despite this one...

So far so good. My loved one was initially taken to John George and they had a wait for a bed which may have taken about a week or so. We advocated for our loved one to be moved where she could begin immediate treatment and get the help that was needed and Fremont Hospital seems like a good choice despite reading some of the bad reviews. We were uncertain of what to expect as we had never gone through this. Once she was there we called and were explained the policy about the 4 digit code. It's discomforting when you haven't seen your family in 3 days and you just want to make sure they're alright; but it makes sense and also helps with the patient being a decision maker in who they allow to contact them or find out anything over the phone. Dealing with mental issues being angry and not wanting anyone to see or speak with you is a possibility so we were more so thinking like what if we never get the code? How will we know what's going on? We then learned that regardless if we have a code or not we are still given an opportunity to show up in person during visiting hours. That was a deep sigh of relief because if she was having a day where she didn't want to communicate with anyone she would at least see our faces hear us say I Love You! And know that we just didn't forget about her or were just leaving her there to fight her battles alone.

When we showed up 5 minutes before visiting was over the front desk staff was very courteous. They answered all of our general questions and called the charge nurse for the more detailed ones. A gentlemen explained about bringing in personal items and how we can store our belongings in a locker before visiting. By the time we were ready to see her the clerk advised us the charge nurse said she was sleeping and they dont like to wake them. Keep in mind we hadn't seen her in a couple days and just wanted to make sure she was ok and looked ok physically and by then my mom was a nervous wreck because she was told the same thing at the other facility. When your dealing with adult patients there is only so much you can do as a parent since they are no longer children and dont require parent consent for care.

We asked if someone could come down and at least speak face to face because we had never gone through this. The nurse explained that she could not leave the station and we can always come back the next day during visiting. We did not get upset as you have to understand a policy is a policy. I gave it a shot and respectfully explained my mom's concern and asked if she could at least just see her face through a window and advised that she will not disturb or awaken her and she would only be a moment. The charge nurse agreed and we both were able to go up! We respectfully followed all procedures and were escorted to where she was In her room sleeping. Glancing around I was impressed that the floor was very secure but it didn't give that prison security feeling. It was pretty clean and didn't have an extreme hospital feel to it. It looks as if most of the rooms have 2 beds. We traveled a short distance and then there she was! Even though we were there for just a minute it felt like a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders and even though she didn't see us we were there together spiritually. Upon leaving we thanked the staff and stopped to personally thank the charge nurse. She then explained about the 4 digit code and answered my mom's other questions and then we left.

I know this was a long read but hopefully this helped or was comforting to someone who is on the same journey we are. As we continue on I will post updates regarding our experiences and adjust the rating as needed. A BIG THANK YOU! To the staff so far as first impressions can tell you alot about what you'll have to deal with. We definitely hope this continues so we can have a strong foundation for our loved...