Austin Oaks Hospital

I was a recent patient of the PHP program. And the staff at the oaks is fabulous. Everyone is kind thoughtful and interested in your recovery. You have to be willing to do the work. Not everything is easy. I made so many amazing connections in this program. The main therapist for the program is the kindest most understanding. The expressive therapists are great and really use games and music to help you cope with your anxiety and other issues in an effective healthy way! The nursing staff is so kind and generous! If you need immediate help I would recommend looking into this program.

Cannot recommend this hospital.
Pro
Austin Oaks Hospital caseworker was my advocate.
Cons
New hospital with limited resources
Receptionist (s) have the roles of
– security
– contraband enforcer
– switchboard operator
– visitation enforcer
Only two adult patient visitation periods per week
– Visitation is set for one hour at a specific time for all patients.
– Most of the time is spent waiting for your turn to enter the common room to visit the patient.
– Lobby can fill-​up with visitors as they are staged into the common room
(don’t be surprised if you see someone you know).
– Only two visitors per patient
– Visitors are not allowed in patient’s room, only common room
Common room (TV, games, etc.) not segregated by patient’s social behavior.
Paperback book is contraband (can be used as weapon).
Incoming personal calls are very difficult to complete after call is transferred from receptionist to ward staff.
I have to believe this hospital receives most of their patients from the Austin Police Department.
My adult son’s therapist called APD after admitting suicidal thoughts. Instead of taking him to
Brackenridge to be assessed as they did the month before, they took him here. This hospital had him and me irritated with their visitation and contraband rules. HIs inpatient doctor, Dr. Kahn, never returned calls in 7 days of trying even though disclosure form was signed by my son. I had to get patient status via caseworker. The hospital refused to transfer him to another hospital.
I’m hoping my son learned his lesson and seek medical help before others do it for him.

***WARNING**** Be VERY wary of this «hospital». My child said there is no real therapy besides them passing out medications and then playing cards and watching movies all day. He compared it to a boring daycare. It’s very difficult to have any staff member return your calls, including the advocate who is absolutely USELESS. The doctor saw my child for 6 minutes on the average daily while there. The staff is not nurturing at all and my child was frustrated that no one would listen to him and they did not follow protocol as written in their admissions paperwork. They put the super nice staff in admissions!!! They also lie frequently to the parents (for example saying they don’t page doctors when in fact while in the waiting room we heard the receptionist page doctors 2 – 3 times) We are filing complaints with everyone we feel is appropriate. We hope a full investigation is done on this «hospital». Before admitting your loved one please take the time to read other complaints and violations that have been filed.
Beware that once you check your child in, it can be exceedingly difficult to get them out. They for sure violate patient and guardians rights. This has led us to fear they are scamming the insurance companies.