• Admissions
• Adult Acute Psychiatric Program
• Adult Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Recovery Program
• Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU)
• Adolescent Psychiatric Program
• Geriatric Program

ADMISSIONS

Individuals are admitted to HSC by voluntary application for admission or through an involuntary commitment process. State Law requires voluntary admission pay an admission fee or have authorization from the County of Residence or some other governmental agency. Voluntary admissions must also be capable of giving informed consent to their admission and treatment or substitute informed consent must be given by an immediate family member or guardian, all pursuant to South Dakota Codified Law 27A (SDCL 27A). Individuals are also encouraged to utilize community mental health centers which serve the county or local services if at all possible. Voluntary admissions are interviewed by an HSC medical professional who determines if the individual is appropriate for admission. Patients have a right to be treated in the least restrictive environment.

Involuntary commitments are arranged through the local county states attorney or the chairman of the County Board of Mental Illness. State Law provides criteria used to determine whether someone may be committed to HSC and outlines the legal process involved. Community mental health centers must be contacted regarding all committed patients to determine if local services can be provided to prevent hospitalizations.

Pre-admission arrangements for all psychiatric admissions to HSC are encouraged by contacting the Psychiatric Admissions Office at (605) 668-3142 or the Admissions Office at 668-3138, after hours and on weekends.

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ADULT  ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC PROGRAM:

The Human Services Center provides acute inpatient psychiatric treatment for adults, age 18 years of age and older. Julie Schaa serves as Director of the Adult Acute Psychiatric Program.

Adult Acute Program provides for initial assessment of adult psychiatric patients. During the 15-day average length of stay, the program initiates and develops treatment and discharge plans. The program promotes and facilitates the patients’ independent functioning in daily activities. Emphasis is on providing care, treatment, and rehabilitation services that will enable the patients to return to and function in the community at the earliest possible time. The Acute Program currently consists of four treatment units with a total bed capacity of 60. Patients admitted for psychiatric treatment are assigned to these units on a rotation basis. The Acute Program is Medicare approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

ADULT PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION & RECOVERY PROGRAM:

The Human Services Center provides adult psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery services for adults, age 18 years and older.  Kent Folkers, OT-R, serves as Director of the Adult Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery Program.

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program provides services for adult patients who are coping with persistent mental illness and who need to remain at the hospital for longer periods of time. The goal of the program is to assist the patients in developing the skills that will help them to live in the least restrictive setting possible. Both on-unit and off-unit education, training, and vocational experiences are provided to prepare the patient for community placement. Just prior to community placement patients may receive special training on those skills needed to make the adjustment to outpatient living. The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program consists of one Community Preparedness Unit and two Neuropsychiatric Rehabilitation Units. Total bed capacity is 61 patients, and additional patients may receive training and education through the Life Skills Program.

INTENSIVE TREATMENT UNIT (ITU):

Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) is a 15-bed unit that is structurally divided into two distinct areas.  Opened in July 1998, the unit provides closer observation for patients who pose a high risk for harming themselves or others.  One area is designated for care of adolescents, the second area for care of adults.  The ITU is also approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

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ADOLESCENT PROGRAM:

The Human Services Center provides inpatient treatment for adolescents with mental illness or severe emotional disturbance. Jody Smith, MA, serves as the Director of the Adolescent Program, which includes three units for Adolescent Psychiatric Program.

Adolescent Psychiatric Program provides adolescents with inpatient psychiatric treatment. All HSC adolescent psychiatric units are Medicaid certified. The goal of the adolescent program is to develop and initiate individualized treatment and discharge plans, provide effective treatment, and to support the patient in transition to home or another appropriate placement setting. Length of hospitalization is based on the needs of the individual patient. The Birch 2 adolescent unit, serves patients ages 12 through 17 years of age, which consists of 15 beds, was established in November 1999, to meet the increasing need for acute psychiatric services for adolescents in South Dakota. The Oak 1 unit consists of 20 beds and serves patients 12 through 17 and the Oak 2 unit has 12 beds and serves patients 12 through 17 years of age.

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GERIATRIC PROGRAM:

The Human Services Center provides inpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services for individuals who, in addition to psychiatric treatment needs, have medical and/or physical care needs that require the level of care provided by a nursing home. Rebecca Parish serves as the Nursing Facility Administrator of the Geriatric Program where care and treatment is provided for patients who, because of the severity of their mental illness, cannot be served by a nursing home in the community. A psychiatrist, registered nurse, social worker, and direct-care case manager develop a comprehensive individualized treatment plan for every patient on admission, with emphasis on providing the patient every opportunity to function as independently as possible in activities of daily living. A treatment goal is for the patient to live in the least restrictive environment, including discharge when appropriate community support services are available. Care, treatment, and rehabilitation provided by direct-care staff is coordinated with occupational therapy, social services, and therapeutic recreational programming. Additional services are available on a referral basis from a registered dietician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, psychologist, speech/hearing pathologist, and audiologist.

The Geriatric Program is surveyed annually by the State Health Department to insure compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Standards for Long-Term-Care Facilities and to certify the Program as a Nursing Facility for Individuals with a Mental Disease. Being certified as a Nursing Facility for Individuals with a Mental Disease qualifies the Geriatric Program to receive Medicaid monies for patients 65 years of age or older who require long-term psychiatric and medical care and who are unable to pay for the services. Total capacity is 69 patient beds.

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