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Eastern
State Hospital |
Patients with criminal legal charges
are referred to the team for a forensic evaluation to determine their
competency to stand trial. This involves determining their ability to
understand the legal charges and the possible outcomes of those charges,
as well as determining their capacity to cooperate with their attorney
and to participate in court proceedings.The PGY-4 resident is present
one day per week to participate in patient evaluation, court hearings,
and co-leadership of a legal issues group for patients. The resident is also an active participant in
team treatment meetings and court proceedings to determine if a
defendant needs a 30-day emergency treatment or a 180-day involuntary
commitment.
Approximately 500 patients are housed and treated in
semi-autonomous buildings or building groups. The Hancock Geriatric
Treatment Center provides care for patients over the age of 65. The
Acute Admissions Unit, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program treat adult
populations. Patients are housed on single sex and/or co-ed wards
within each building. The program includes a level system which allows patients to
gain increasing privileges and responsibilities as they improve during
their stay, in preparation for their re-entry into the community.
Treatment is provided by multi-disciplinary teams comprised of
physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and activities
therapists. Many treatment approaches, such as individual and group
psychotherapy, behavior modification, pastoral counseling, milieu
therapy, and drug therapy, are used. The hospital offers a full
program of activities including music, art, and recreation. A library,
gymnasium, auditorium, game room, greenhouse, swimming pool, and
picnic area are located on the hospital grounds. Vocational
rehabilitation is available at the hospital through the Virginia
Department of Rehabilitative Services. The hospital maintains a
professional library with over 65 subscriptions to mental
health-related journals as well as a subscription to PsychLit on
CD-ROM.
Eastern State Hospital maintains cooperative educational programs
with many area universities, including The College of William and
Mary, The Medical College of Virginia, Old Dominion University, and
Eastern Virginia Medical School. The hospital maintains a professional
library with over 65 subscriptions to mental health-related journals.
Eastern State Hospital's rich historical, educational, and
community-oriented background contribute to the clinical experience
available in its training programs.
