Psychiatric Institute of Washington

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) is an acute (104 bed) psychiatric hospital in Washington, DC.[1] Opened in 1967, PIW is a short-term, private hospital. It offers behavioral healthcare to patients suffering from mental and addictive illnesses, including children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. Services offered by PIW include inpatient, partial and intensive outpatient hospitalization, and group treatment programs for substance abuse and addiction.

As reported by US News,[2] the Psychiatric Institute of Washington had 2,641 admissions and 1,766 outpatient visits in 2011. The hospital employed five physicians and dentists, twenty-two registered nurses, and ten practical nurses on its full-time medical staff. The hospital's part-time medical staff in 2011 included forty registered nurses and six practical nurses. PIW does not have a surgical unit or offer emergency room services.

PIW's focuses on aiding " People with Integrity and Willingness to share in the healing process and guide those we serve on the path to health".[3]

Inpatient Services

PIW is primarily an inpatient center. Focusing on the needs and goals of the client, the hospital offers each admitted individual an opportunity to grow and co-pilot his or her own treatment plan. Patient's admitted into the hospital undergo a standard number of evaluations and staff assignments before being placed on a specific unit. This includes an assessment from the Nursing staff upon first arrival, a psychiatric evaluation, and a complete history and physical exam. Patients are also informed of the rules and regulations of the hospitals and encouraged to ask for clarification at any point along their course of treatment.[4]

Patients are assigned a social worker as well as a "treatment team" consisting of the social worker, physician, and nurse. In order to give patients a sense of normalcy, every patient receives a complete program schedule for the unit he or she is placed on and an orientation to the unit's group therapy model.

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington offers six inpatient programs: Adult Psychiatric Services - Detox & Psych units, Child Services, Adolescent Services, The Center, and The School. Each of these programs target specific age and mental health need. As evident from the units' names, PIW serves not only adults seeking mental health support, it also has the capacity to treat younger populations in distress.

Outpatient Services

Despite a general focus on inpatient care, PIW does offer two outpatient programs to patients who do not qualify for in-hospital care. The Day Center serves patients suffering from daily anxieties while The Urgent Care Center, a newly established program in partnership with the Department of Mental Health and D.C. Superior Court provides immediate mental health assessments and treatment to defendants with mental health needs, as identified by judges, attorneys, and Pre-Trial Services Agency staff.[5] Both programs are group therapy focused.

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Coordinates: 38°56′38″N 77°4′40.9″W / 38.94389°N 77.078028°W