Partial hospitalization is often a desirable alternative to traditional inpatient hospital programs. Day hospitals are designed to help individuals with illnesses or disorders that don't compromise their ability to function at home or in society. Most day hospital programs include individual therapy with a counselor, therapist, or psychologist; supervised group therapy; education and awareness classes; and discussions about issues such as communication, coping, and stress management. These programs are usually specialized, tending to focus on a particular age group, disorder, or problem. Adult programs are geared specifically toward adult concerns, like job-related stress, marital problems, and substance abuse. Programs for children and adolescents generally focus on school and relationships with parents, siblings, and peers. The goal of day hospitals is to help the patient learn to resolve problems and function independently. Patients may be in a treatment program from one week to several months, depending on their needs. In some cases, partial hospitalization precludes the necessity of inpatient treatment, while in others it's used as a transitional step for patients who've recently been released from inpatient care. For more information, consult a local health care provider.
