Frequently Asked Questions
Partial Hospital

Four Winds Saratoga

Adolescent Services

The Adolescent Partial Programs offer intensive, structured, short-term treatment.  The Adolescent Partial/Intensive Outpatient Programs services teens from 13-17.  This level of care is appropriate for children and adolescents who require a higher level of care than less intense outpatient services.  Participants in the Partial programs typically experience difficulty managing behaviors at home and/or in school.  The program also serves as a transitional level of care from inpatient to outpatient treatment.  Both programs work with individuals managing a wide array of diagnoses and behavioral difficulties, including mood disorders, anxiety and oppositional defiance among others.

Adult Services

The Adult Partial/Intensive Outpatient Program offers full day short-term group treatment for adults. The program is appropriate for adults 18 and over who require a higher level of care than less intense outpatient services. Participants in the program are typically experiencing difficulty managing psychosocial stressors and life challenges. The program also serves as a transitional level of care from inpatient to outpatient. The program works with individuals managing a wide array of diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, psychosis and co-occurring substance abuse disorders.

Who will be involved in my treatment?

Treatment will be provided by a treatment team, a group of professionals and paraprofessionals that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, registered nurse practitioners, licensed social workers and a licensed art therapist. They will work collaboratively with you to integrate important aspects of your treatment.

What is my family’s role in my treatment?

Family participation is an integral component of our multimodal treatment approach.

What should I bring with me to the program each day?

Most of what each participant will need will be provided each day by the Program. Participants should however: Wear comfortable, casual clothing that is socially appropriate. Temperatures in group rooms can vary so dressing in layers is encouraged. Keep current weather conditions in mind. Bring daily treatment materials that will be provided to participants during the treatment day.  

Is food provided during the day?

Snacks and lunch will be provided each day. Lunch is served in the main dining hall during the assigned lunch time. Please check the program schedule for lunch times.

What should I leave at home during my treatment?

Please do not bring large sums of cash, jewelry, electronic equipment, CDs, valuables, weapons of any kind, matches, lighters, cigarettes, vaping devices, drugs, belts, scarves, mirrors, scissors, pocket knives, media disks, regular pencils, pens, Sharpies, markers or any gang-identifying clothing or jewelry (i.e., bandanas).  For reasons of confidentiality, personal cameras and other photographic-type equipment may not be brought to the hospital.

Will I go to school?

Adolescents in the Partial Hospital Program attend school from Monday through Friday during the school year as a component of participation. Educational services will be provided by Learnwell, which is staffed with master's level and special education teachers. The education team works closely with the home school district to make sure that each student gets credit for the schoolwork that is completed. Educational services are provided through individualized or small group instruction and are conducted in self-contained classrooms. With written permission, regular contact with the in-home teacher, the home district teacher, guidance counselor and school administrators ensures educational continuum. If your child plans to access school work via Google Classroom or any similar virtual classroom, they will be required to bring a chromebook or other device with which to access course content. Educators are present to facilitate learning and are not responsible for monitoring device usage. The parent or guardian is responsible for ensuring appropriate security measures are in place on the device to restrict access to any inappropriate content. At the time of discharge the educational instructor will prepare a final written report notifying the home school district of all pertinent information regarding the student, including recommendations for continued successful learning.

Safety & Security

To ensure a safe and substance-free environment, belongings may be searched at the discretion of the staff. Contraband will be confiscated and parents notified. Contraband includes, but is not limited to, drugs, alcohol and weapons.

May I smoke on hospital grounds?

Four Winds Hospital is a smoke-free facility. Patients may not smoke or use any nicotine products on hospital grounds, including in private vehicles.

Are there drug screening procedures?

Yes.  In order to ensure a substance-free environment, urine screens may be conducted on a random basis and at the discretion of the staff.

What is the policy on cell phones?

Adults should turn off their cell phones during program hours.  To ensure the security and privacy of our patients, participants with camera phones are prohibited from taking pictures or videos while on hospital grounds. Adolescents are encouraged to leave their cell phones at home.  Any cell phones brought to program will be collected from children and adolescents at the beginning of the day and returned at the end of the day.

What about transportation?

Participants must arrange their own daily transportation to and from the Partial Program.  Four Winds provides prearranged transportation for a limited number of children and adolescents in a defined geographic area.  Patients in the adult program may drive themselves, but will be asked to hand in keys during the day.  Adult participants driving themselves are to park in the lot outside the building.  Patients in the adolescent program must be transported by a parent or school. No teens may drive themselves. Parents or guardians/families may not car pool.

What if I am absent?

Daily attendance is mandatory for participation in the program.  If you are unable to attend on a scheduled program day, please call the appropriate call out line listed on the Treatment Team Contact List to advise the staff that you will not be attending that day. Provide a reason for your absence and leave a phone number where you can be reached.  If you have not called in after the program begins, we will call you. Parents should call the program on behalf of their child.  If you are receiving Four Winds transportation, please call transportation by 6:30 am to cancel.  If a patient is absent unexpectedly and does not respond to phone calls from program staff, the local police may be contacted to conduct a wellness visit to ensure the patient’s safety. Inclement Weather In the event of bad weather, please call the hospital at 1-518-584-3600 ext. 0 for the operator to access information regarding program closing or delayed openings. The Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Program will follow school closings for the Saratoga City School System.  You may also access information regarding program closings or delays by listening to your local radio/TV station. There may be an occasion when there will be a need for early dismissal due to inclement weather. The program will contact families of those in the child and adolescent programs by phone to inform them of the scheduled change.

What about an emergency?

If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency you should call 911, your local mobile crisis team or go to the nearest emergency room.   A Crisis on-call line is also available 7 days a week to assist you in managing psychiatric emergencies.  You can access this service by calling the numbers listed on the Treatment Team Contact List, Monday to Thursdays from 5pm-9am.  These numbers do not accept text messages.  If you are in need of assistance on weekends or holidays, please contact the main Four Winds Hospital Number (518-584-3600) and ask for the Nursing Supervisor.

Will anyone find out that I am here?

Each patient has the right, within the law, to personal privacy and privacy of information. Patient information is discreetly shared within the treatment team.  Written consent is required prior to having information shared with other individuals, including schools and outside therapists.  To ensure privacy for everyone, and to enhance the healing process, we ask that you, your family members and significant others do not disclose information, stories or names to anyone outside of the program.

What if I need to take medication during program hours?

If you or your child takes medication during program hours, please ensure your child’s safety by handing medications to nursing staff in a properly labeled pharmaceutical bottle.  Our nurses will administer medications to children and adolescents.  Adults may self-administer medications.

What is the policy regarding personal relationships with individuals I meet in program?

Personal contact with peers or staff is prohibited.  Relationships between patients are discouraged as they distract those involved from the task of examining and working on their own treatment. Patients are also discouraged from sharing or lending belongings with one another.  Relationships between staff and patients are professional, not personal.  

What are my rights and responsibilities as a patient?

Four Winds Hospital recognizes the value, worth and uniqueness of each individual and is committed to providing considerate, respectful and effective treatment in response to each patient’s individual health-care needs. For your convenience the “Notice to Patients – General Statement of the Rights of Patients” is clearly posted.
Each patient at Four Winds Hospital has the right to:

  • Confidentiality, privacy and expression of his or her individuality regarding spiritual beliefs and cultural practices, providing that these practices do not harm or otherwise interfere with a planned course of treatment for themselves or other individuals.
  • Request information regarding their medical record from their therapist and be kept completely informed regarding their care and treatment.
  • Participate in their treatment and discharge plan to the extent that they are able to do so (or to give consent to allow another individual, usually a relative or close friend, to act as his or her legally authorized representative when such action is indicated).  
  • Follow hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct and follow and comply with the treatment plan recommended by the treatment team responsible for his/her care.

Are service animals permitted on hospital grounds with visitors?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protections for those individuals with service animals. A service animal means any dog that is specifically trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability.  The work or tasks performed by the service animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.  Emotional support and comfort animals of any species are not recognized as service animals and will not be permitted at the hospital.  Service animals are welcome.

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