The New York Gracie Square Hospital

For more than six decades, Gracie Square Hospital has provided comprehensive and personalized behavioral healthcare to thousands of individuals in New York City and beyond. Mental health is an essential part of everyone's well-being, and the team at Gracie Square Hospital recognizes that dealing with mental health challenges can be complex and, at times, intimidating. Through our affiliation with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, we are dedicated to improving the lives of our patients and their loved ones through innovative approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Furthermore, Gracie Square Hospital is constantly working toward eliminating the stigma of mental illness. Building on our legacy of world-class patient and family-centered care, we have achieved National Recognition for Excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program, and Planetree Gold certification for Patient Centered Care. In addition, we are proud to be designated as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the 2022 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) of the Human Rights Campaign. During each patient's hospital stay, our expert social workers plan for the transition to outpatient care and facilitate connections with community resources to promote recovery. Gracie Square Hospital's multifaceted interdisciplinary and targeted approach incorporates medications; individual, milieu, and group therapy; and/or therapeutic activities into treatment plans. We work together to promote wellness while providing patients with skills to reduce the risk of relapse and enhance function and independence. Specialized patient care programs include: Young Adult & College Student Programfor young adults ages 18-25 with emerging psychiatric disorders. Symptoms of major psychiatric disorders, including affective and psychotic disorders, often begin in the late teens or early 20s. The sooner treatment begins, the better outcomes will be. Orthodox Jewish Programprovides specialized, culturally sensitive, and individualized inpatient psychiatric care for members of the Orthodox Jewish community aged 18 and older. Our interdisciplinary clinical team is dedicated to addressing the unique needs of Orthodox Jewish individuals, collaborating closely with community leaders for religious guidance and cultural understanding. We prioritize creating a safe and supportive environment for religious practices, including providing opportunities for prayer (davening) and facilitating traditional observances such as supporting men to put on tefillin and providing modest and appropriate head-coverings for women. Additionally, all meals served are Glatt kosher, ensuring adherence to dietary laws. Our program offers a range of Orthodox-specific therapeutic activities and groups, including special programming for Shabbos and holidays to facilitate meaningful observance and community connection. We are committed to promoting holistic wellness while honoring our patients' religious and cultural traditions. Older Adult Program(Geriatric Service) for people age 65 and older with psychiatric disorders that require inpatient treatment. Team members have training in the care of older adults. Psychiatrists and internists on this unit are also knowledgeable about co-existing medical conditions that may cause psychiatric symptoms. They manage patients' psychiatric and non-psychiatric medications and pay careful attention to drug interactions. Psychotic Disorders Programfor individuals with acute symptoms of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, as well as those with bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Dual Focus Programfor people with significant emotional or psychiatric problems plus abuse challenges. Many of these patients suffer from two co-existing illnesses. They may be treated either in mental health or addiction systems, or shuttled back and forth between them - an often unsuccessful approach. The Dual Focus Program addresses both psychiatric and addiction components through customized treatment plans. The team includes addiction-trained social workers. Crisis Stabilization Programfor patients with mood and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, and other psychiatric syndromes and who are in distress. Asian Psychiatry Programprovides culturally appropriate services to members of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and other Asian communities in need of inpatient mental health care. The program is directed by a culturally diverse clinical team and support staff who speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Chinese ethnic dialects, Korean, Japanese, and other Asian languages. Activities incorporate Asian influences and the unit is decorated with Asian art. Patients are served Chinese food and tea, and educational materials and newspapers are available in both English and Asian languages. Affective (Mood) Disorders Programfor patients with mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. Patients at Gracie Square Hospital benefit from a multidisciplinary care team specially trained to meet their personal needs. We call upon specialists from other areas of medicine as needed, ensuring that our patients benefit from the comprehensive range of healthcare services available through the NewYork-Presbyterian network. Our treatment team includes: Certified occupational therapists -Our certified occupational therapists focus on enabling individuals to re-engage in meaningful occupations through a variety of skill sets such as skills development, establishing positive habits and routines, setting therapy goals, using cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT), and understanding underlying physiological influences. They help our patients develop, recover, improve, and maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. Certified alcoholism and substance abuse counselor -These professionals provide care and support for patients dealing with co-occurring disorders, such as alcohol and/or drug use and a mental health condition. Internist or family nurse practitioner -After conducting thorough physical and neurological examinations, the primary care provider orders any needed diagnostic testing, identifies medical conditions present, and designs medical treatment plans. Nursing aides -Our aides help provide for the comfort and safety of our patients through assistance with activities of daily living and education. They support our patients, family members, and other caregivers. Nutritionist - A nutritionist with experience in behavioral health care evaluates each patient and creates an individualized dietary plan. In addition, patients and their families receive nutritional guidance, education on food and drug interactions, and information about dietary supplements. Registered professional psychiatric nurse - Our nurses work at the top of their professional licensure via the utilization of a professional governance structure. Through collaboration, our nurses ensure optimal patient care delivery while driving highly reliable quality outcomes. Psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner - The psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner has expertise in the patient's diagnosis. This professional serves as a patient's team leader and coordinates and implements the patient's comprehensive treatment plan. Psychologist -Licensed clinical psychologists provide individual and group therapy using approaches such as CBT, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills training, and short-term psychodynamic therapy. Social workers -Our clinicians conduct psychosocial assessments which incorporate all resources available to inform an individualized treatment plan that will lead to a timely and successful discharge to community resources. Physical therapist - For patients who may need assistive devices for mobility (walkers, wheelchairs, etc.), and for those recovering from a recent injury who are in need of a rehabilitation assessment.