Outpatient care refers to medical or mental health treatment that does not require an overnight stay in a hospital or facility. It allows patients to receive care while continuing their daily routines at home, work, or school.

Intensive Outpatient Care (IOP) is the lowest level of care where patients come in for treatment multiple days per week for three hours each day. Patients at this level of care experience group and individual therapy, meet with psychiatrists, participate in experiential therapy, and other treatment modalities.

Inpatient Hospitalization is the highest level of care, which provides mental and physical stabilization during an acute episode. Inpatient care is for you, if you are in emergency situations and intend to harm yourself, need to regain nutrients or achieve a healthy intake of food, or if you need to withdraw from illicit substances or alcohol. Your multidisciplinary treatment team should create a care plan to help stabilize your symptoms, help you get through the crisis, and set up a plan for continued treatment.

Residential treatment is sometimes considered for acute cases who have completed their in-patient treatment. As a patient in residential treatment, you will be required to live on campus and be treated in a supportive environment while receiving intensive treatment for an average of 30 to 90 days. Patients in residential care are medically stable and focus on building the skills needed for long-term recovery.

If you are referred for partial hospitalization care (PHP), you can expect to come in for treatment five days a week typically for six hours each day. This level of care is sometimes referred to as “day treatment.” Patients will often step down from inpatient or residential to partial hospitalization, which is shown to have the best short-term and long-term clinical outcomes with reduced readmission at a future date.

Local facilities may offer virtual treatment at this time.