College Hospital Costa Mesa

Under California Code of Regulations, Title 9 Section 865.2 (c); California Welfare & Institutions Code Section 5325, the patient under 5150 (involuntary hold) has a right to have reasonable access to phones both to make and receive confidential calls, but can be denied with good cause.
I feel my son was denied this right without good cause because the phone line was busy every single time I tried to call. They had given me a number to call him only, not for him to call me, and only for 2 brief periods totalling an hour which I could not succesful reach my son.
5150 is very very hard for a parent/​child to go through this in the first place, but not even being able to access your parent/​child during times when phone calls are available is very unsettling. I feel that the phone being «busy» is not a good cause to ipso facto deny reasonable phone access to my child.
I will be bringing this to their attention first thing tomorrow as my son just arrived today. If it is not resolved, I have a right to file an ex-​parte on behalf of my son and so does anyone else who is facing this issue with this facility.

My experience here has shown that this hospital endeavors to show compassion for their patients, sometimes even going above and beyond. Unlike some psych facilities I have seen and heard of, the staff here know how to TALK to the patient before they get out of control.

College hospital met all of our needs when other facilities were not willing to admit. The staff were helpful and professional.

I’m going to be getting a patient advocate and filing any kind of grievance that I can against this hospital. Not just because of the way that I was treated, but because of the way I saw other people treated while I was there, they are disgusting.
I started out in the IOP program, I have struggled with major depression since I was 16. The first psychiatrist that I was assigned to at this hospital could not see me because I was friends with another one of this patients, I thought that was very bizarre, don’t doctors take oaths and know how to be professional. My case manager also lied to me about the fact that my doctor was being changed, which was weird.
Then my new psychiatrist never spent any time talking to me one on one he always had the charge nurse in our sessions and the nurse made the decisions about my medications and she messed them up so badly that I ended being suicidal.
The straw that broke the camels back: one night I ended up so depressed that I took too many of my night time meds. I came back the following day and told the group. The group asked me if I was feeling suicidal and I said no. They said they were really proud of me for still showing up and sharing all of that and trying to get better. They asked me what I could do to practice self care the rest the of the week. I felt really good and really loved when I left that night. I made an appointment with my regular doctor for the following morning and he put me back on all my regular medications and said I should probably try to talk to my doctor and nurse and the IOP about starting ECT. When I got to IOP that morning I went to the nurse station and I could hear the nurse on the phone with my insurance company, when she saw my waiting to talk to her she quickly slammed the door in my face. So I went and I put in a request to talk to the doctor, who I had not seen in two weeks, even though the program requires that I see him weekly. I never got to talk to the nurse or the doctor instead at 130pm I was pulled out of group and told that I was being put on a 5150. By two people who had never spoken to me, and knew nothing about the situation other than that I had insurance. The doctor did not come to meet with me until exactly 23 hours after the hold had been in place.
That’s my personal experience with their insurance fraud, but while I was in there, I saw some other things that broke my heart:
My roommate was a 19 year old girl that had her first manic episode. They had her so drugged up that she could hardly talk. I was there on the 14^th day of her hold when they should have let her out, instead they decided to keep her for 30 days. To do that they needed to hold a trial. She was in no was capable of representing herself in a trial. I offered her my last $ 0.50 to call her parents but they didn’t speak english and she didn’t want to bother them. My heart broke for this poor girl as I tried to help her remember how to think, but she didn’t stand a chance. Just another example of insurance fraud at work when I walked back into the rook 30 minutes later and I saw tears just pouring down this completely numb girls face because she didn’t stand a chance against self-​serving hospital.
Another girl had no idea that she could refuse ECT. They told her that it was her only option they just started giving it to her. More insurance money for them.
I almost feel like my new calling in life is to become a patient advocate after my experience with this hospital, they are gross.

Great hospital. Awesome staff. Not more I can say.

Unorganized, unprofessional, and lack of staff!
I went to go visit a coworker here with special visiting rights authorized by her doctors and never got to see her! I called to confirm during the day and also the day before, too.
First of all, she had her friend drive her because she was unable, this is a treatment center and upon her admittance, she had overdosed with drugs and alcohol… you need a medical clearance to enter this place, they should have sent her to the hospital first to be evaluated prior to admittance, it’s the law. (I have a Master’s in Public Health).
Next, upon my arrival at the front desk, the girl is eating McDonalds while she is sitting there working. Places of employment provide break areas for eating, snacks, etc. And especially at a mental health facility. I was shocked. It was a young girl you could hardly hear what she was saying as she was so preoccupied with herself and not really helping anyone.
Then, taking a seat in the waiting room, there is a nice coffee display, BUT no coffee in the caraffs, all gone! Even other visitors tried to get a cup, nothing! and there were three caraffs.
Then after 15 minutes my friend called my cell and wanted to know where I was! I said, I have been downstairs waiting for fifteen minutes. She was shocked and said, okay, I will tell the nurse. So apparently nobody was notified we were even there.
After a half hour had gone by I called her back and the floor nurse said she was outside smoking… that’s funny, because my friend doesn’t even smoke… so I responded by saying, «Please let her know after her smoke that I have been waiting for a half and hour and have to go now, that I was here and cannot wait any longer.»
The nurse said okay. I walked past Miss McDonalds up front and inerrupted her saying we cannot wait any longer and we walked out. As I got in my car, she came running out saying they can see you, but I told her it was too late, I had to go, we were only there for a quick visit, we had to get back to work.
Then about another half hour later my friend there calls and says the nurse told her I had kids to get home to, but I don’t even have any kids!!! Second lie. My friend apologized and she told me the nurse told her they were doing an intake and that the world doesn’t revolve around her!!! for someone who just tried committing suicide, this seems way out of line.
And the lies we were told, although seeming small, about the smoking and kids, a lie is a lie, how can you trust what they say to you? Horrible to be treated this way.
But I suppose since they ONLY accept people with insurance, it’s a business just like any other and checking people in and out is their primary goal to get reimbursement. Paid.
I would never send or recommend this place, EVER! And in fact, am reporting them to the boards.

Staff is so patient and up beat. They make recovery from whatever you are healing from very fun and pleasant. Thank you collage Hospital!