Download BHC ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL (BHC=Behavioral Healthcare Center)

BHC ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL
4619 N. Rosemead Blvd.
Rosemead CA 91770
(626) 286-1191
# of Openings: 4
ADVANCED PRACTICUM
LEVEL:
Practicum
CONTACT: Joseph Dadourian, Ed.D., Director of Psychology
NATURE OF AGENCY/POPULATION SERVED
BHC (Behavioral Healthcare Center) Alhambra Hospital is a private, for-profit
psychiatric hospital offering both inpatient and partial hospital programs. The inpatient
program includes: Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, Eating Disorders, Assessment &
Referral, and Case Management Services. The inpatient programs are locked and the
hospital is a 51/50 designated facility in the County of Los Angeles. The partial hospital
programs are all adult.
The demographics of the hospital are reflective of the general Los Angeles County
population.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT SERVICES
This training site is an excellent opportunity for graduate students in psychology to learn
about severe psychiatric disorders and develop skills of rapid stabilization and brief
focused treatment. The majority of treatment is group psychotherapy. Individual
focused/ brief psychotherapy is assigned for patients in crisis who may benefit from this
form of intervention. Family therapy may also be approved by the treatment team.
Students participate in multi-disciplinary treatment planning and milieu therapy.
Students are assigned to a specific program for the entire year based on their
preference and the program directors’ judgment. Students can be assigned to one of
the following programs:
1.
INPATIENT PROGRAM
A.
Adult Acute Inpatient: The program focus of this unit is to curtail
dysfunctional symptoms and establish a level of safety for the patient to be
discharged to a less restrictive level of care, i.e. partial hospitalization,
outpatient, etc. The age range is from 18 and up. Examples of training
opportunities include: co-leading and leading groups, individual crisis
intervention, family therapy, and treatment planning.
B.
Youth Services Acute Inpatient: The program focus of this unit is to curtail
dysfunctional symptoms and establish a level of safety for the patient to be
discharged to a less restrictive level of care, i.e. partial hospitalization,
outpatient, residential care, etc. The unit is divided into two separate units,
BHC ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL – PAGE 2
pediatrics (4 to 13 years of age) and adolescents (14 to 17 years of age).
Examples of training opportunities include: co-leading and leading groups,
individual crisis intervention, family therapy and treatment planning.
2.
C.
Assessment/ Referral Department: This department is the gateway into
the BHC Hospital programs. Counselors in this department conduct triage
evaluations (assessments); comprehensive psychosocial assessments;
crisis intervention; and provide information on hospital and other
community psychological services as well as referrals. The services are
rendered via telephone or face-to-face evaluations at the hospital. This is
a fast paced team providing crisis intervention and screening for
involuntary and voluntary psychiatric hospitalization. This internship
position is for an intern capable of fast past learning, problem solving and
multi-tasking in the midst of crisis and chaos. It includes not only clinical
learning but also insurance authorizations and levels of psychiatric care.
D.
Case Management: This department is comprised of a multi-disciplinary
treatment team consisting of psychologists, social workers, and marriage
and family therapists who provide the oversight of services to each patient
treated at BHC Alhambra Hospital, a neutral point of access into the
health care delivery system, and coordination of in-house and outpatient
care and providers. Each case manager individually meets with patients
daily to address treatment concerns, progress, clinical symptom
presentation, and coordinate discharge and aftercare planning. The case
manager is responsible for formulating clinical presentations of the
patients’ data including: Axis I-V diagnoses, psychiatric history, current
symptoms, interventions used, medication trials, and treatment plan.
Case Managers conduct couple and family sessions, schedule follow up
appointments prior to discharge in an effort to provide an adequate
aftercare plan, and complete Psychosocial Assessments. Interns will gain
thorough exposure to chronic mental illness, eating disorders, and
chemical dependency and treatment.
Partial Hospitalization:
The program focus of this unit is to provide a transition period between inpatient
and outpatient treatment to assist the patient in learning coping skills so as
prevent regression and/or relapse. The age range is from 18 and up. Patients in
this program are either persistently mental ill with a recent history of declining
functioning and/or exacerbation of symptoms or in transition from acute
hospitalization. Examples of training opportunities include: co-leading and
leading groups, individual therapy, and treatment planning.
BHC ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL – PAGE 3
3.
Eating Disorders Program:
Rapid stabilization and intensive preventive care include medical and
professional nurses monitoring vital signs, laboratory test results, starvation
effects and purging and non-purging behaviors with focus on the individual's
emotional and nutritional goals.
Eating Disorders Partial Hospitalization Program: Structured, 8 hour 6 day a
week treatment program designed to ensure continued success in combating
anorexia and/or bulimia with a focus on the individual's emotional and nutritional
goals while attending therapeutic and educational groups
PRACTICUM ASSIGNMENTS
Trainees are assigned to a specific program for the entire year (Inpatient, Partial or
Eating Disorders). Trainees can indicate their interest within the Inpatient Program. The
dynamic nature of the hospital might require trainees to be assigned to the highest need
areas within the three main programs.
•
•
•
Inpatient
- Adult Inpatient
- Youth Services
- Assessment & Referral Service
- Case Management
Partial Hospitalization Program
Reasons- Eating Disorders Program
THEORETICAL ORIENTATION
The theoretical orientation of the hospital is crisis intervention and stabilization oriented
drawing from cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral therapy and systems theories.
Students will also learn a great deal about psycho-traumatology and addictions, as well
about the use of psychotropic medications used by the attending psychiatrists in
stabilizing patients in acute crisis.
SUPERVISION AND TRAINING
Students receive 2 hours of group supervision and one hour individual supervision per
week by licensed psychologists. Once a month students attend a Clinical Educational
Lecture series on various relevant topics. We also, are a CAPIC training site for full time
doctoral students.
BHC ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL – PAGE 4
We take great care to assure the student a gradual supportive introduction into the very
challenging setting. The first week of training is devoted to orientation and preparation
for patient care. Students begin through observation until deemed ready to conduct
groups independently. Students receive ongoing training throughout the training based
on their needs as well.
LENGTH OF TRAINING
Typically 4 half-time doctoral psychology practicum students are selected for each year
with flexible start dates. Length of practicum is 24 hours per week over a three-day
period for 52 weeks, with two weeks (48 hours total) off for vacation. Practicum students
accepted into other internship programs toward the end of their practicum, which may
conflict, with the end date of our program would be released from this requirement of 52
weeks at the discretion of the Director of Clinical Training.
VACATION
2 weeks of vacation (must be pre-approved by the program manager). Since the
hospital is open 24-7, 365 days a year there are no assumed holidays. All holidays
must be pre-approved as with vacations.
STIPEND
None.
PREFERRED AND REQUIRED DAYS
Wednesday mornings are required for group supervision. Spread over three days.
Weekends can be included.
DISABILITY ACCESS
The site is wheelchair accessible.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The agency’s website can be visited at: http://www.bhcalhambra.com.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
After receiving approval from the Field Training office, please contact Dr Dadourian for
by email for the application process.
BHC ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL – PAGE 5
BHC Alhambra Hospital requires prospective students to attend one of the two group
informational/ pre-interview sessions. The objective of this session is to learn more
about the training in a group setting with other applicants as well as introducing yourself
and your interests. BHC Alhambra does not use letters of recommendation, please
don’t send any. BHC Alhambra Hospital tries to interview all applicants but at times is
unable to do so due to time constraints.
REVISED 10-12