What Is The Average Length Of Stay At A PHP?

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A PHP, or partial hospitalization program, is the highest level of outpatient treatment care. You can expect to attend treatment services for about six hours five days a week. Normally, you will reside in a sober living environment while you are in the program.

Average Length Of Stay At A PHP

Most partial hospitalization programs expect clients to attend programming anywhere from three to five days per week. Normally, the sessions last about six hours per day. Clients will usually attend more frequently initially, and then step down over time to fewer days. 

PHPs offer a variety of services to clients including individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and case management. The programs are staffed by multiple different professionals who specialize in treating mental health and substance abuse. 

The Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services published a study in 2009 which states that on average people remained in Partial Hospitalization Programs for three to four weeks. However, the study also found that some people remained in PHP for six to nine months. It is important to note that everyone is different. The length of stay at a PHP is dependent on the individual’s particular needs.

At The Healing Center we allow our clients to stay in our partial hospitalization program for as long as they need before we step them down to an intensive outpatient, or outpatient program. 

Does Everyone Attend A Partial Hospitalization Program?

There are many different factors that go into an individual’s treatment process. Finances, employment constraints, and insurance coverage can all affect the type of treatment that someone is able to receive.

Normally people begin their recovery journey by going to a detox. In detox people are able to safely detox from substances that their body has become physically dependent on. Once the physical body has been stabilized they can choose to enter into another level of care.

Not everyone attends a partial hospitalization program. It is dependent upon many different factors including their history of substance abuse, mental health status, and medical conditions. 

PHP is none as the in between for residential and outpatient care. While PHP is still technically an outpatient level of care, it still offers a lot of supervision and support. If someone has only struggled with addiction for a short period of time, then partial hospitalization may be too intensive. On the other hand, if there are concerns about a person being able to live outside of a facility, then PHP will not offer enough supervision. 

Partial Hospitalization programs are normally the best option for individuals who are stable enough to be unsupervised periodically throughout the day. They need to be able to live off campus, normally in sober living homes, which do not offer as much supervision and care as staying in a residential facility. An assessment is done upon admission into a treatment program in order to determine the best level of care for someone.

What Is The Step Down Approach?

Most treatment centers take the step down approach. That means that individuals begin at a high level of care and then move down to lower levels of care overtime. For example, a person may attend a full thirty day residential program, but they still might need a significant amount of supervision. They would then step down into the PHP phase of treatment. The step down process is used in order to slowly reintegrate people back into daily living, while they adjust to daily life without drugs and alcohol. Early recovery is not an easy process and a slower transition allows the person to develop the coping skills they need in a safe and secure environment. Furthermore, the step down approach reduces the risk of relapse since individuals normally stay longer in a treatment program.

Partial Hospitalization Program In Fort Lauderdale, FL

Partial hospitalization programs are a great way for people who are just getting out of detox, or for individuals who still need some supervision after leaving a residential treatment center. They offer a safe environment, therapeutic services, peer support, and structure for those who are transitioning into a substance-free lifestyle. The Healing Center’s partial hospitalization program in Fort Lauderdale, FL is a safe haven for individuals who are struggling with alcohol and addiction. Call our admissions team today to learn more.