It may be strange to just post this way, but one thing I forgot, and many of you may have forgotten, is that the Baker Act is not the only way to get a child into the hospital.
When Wiz went into the psychiatric hospital the first time he was not an immediate danger to himself or others or property. He was calm, sad, and rather disbelieving.
With your doctor's help a child CAN be put into the hospital. The doctor has to find a bed, and if there are no beds or an emergency comes up you may not get a bed right away. I know TimerLady has been through this, as have others.
When we give advice to others we often say that the child has to be a danger to self or others. We forget and leave out that the child's doctor CAN order the child inpatient.
After Wiz went in the first time we learned we could have put him inpatient before. The doctor was waiting for us to say it was that bad. We had NO CLUE that kids could be put into psychiatric hospitals here (that beds for kids existed in our state) or that we just needed to say something to our doctor. The doctor felt bad after he realized this. He thought we knew that he could do that.
So for all of you wondering if hospitalization is needed or would help - talk to your doctor. Ask if it can be ordered, or what HIS criteria are to order inpatient help.
There ARE also hospitals you can take a very ill child to who is an immediate danger. Knowing where those are and how to get there is a good idea.
Just thought that I would put this out there. If I forgot maybe someone else did also. Or maybe a newer member didn't know.
When Wiz went into the psychiatric hospital the first time he was not an immediate danger to himself or others or property. He was calm, sad, and rather disbelieving.
With your doctor's help a child CAN be put into the hospital. The doctor has to find a bed, and if there are no beds or an emergency comes up you may not get a bed right away. I know TimerLady has been through this, as have others.
When we give advice to others we often say that the child has to be a danger to self or others. We forget and leave out that the child's doctor CAN order the child inpatient.
After Wiz went in the first time we learned we could have put him inpatient before. The doctor was waiting for us to say it was that bad. We had NO CLUE that kids could be put into psychiatric hospitals here (that beds for kids existed in our state) or that we just needed to say something to our doctor. The doctor felt bad after he realized this. He thought we knew that he could do that.
So for all of you wondering if hospitalization is needed or would help - talk to your doctor. Ask if it can be ordered, or what HIS criteria are to order inpatient help.
There ARE also hospitals you can take a very ill child to who is an immediate danger. Knowing where those are and how to get there is a good idea.
Just thought that I would put this out there. If I forgot maybe someone else did also. Or maybe a newer member didn't know.