Mental Health

Find strength and healing with support from Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville. As the region's largest behavioral health provider, we bring the full range of services to people of all ages. Whether you’re living with a chronic condition or preparing for a life change, visit us for compassionate care.

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Accredited Treatment

You deserve the best possible mental healthcare. That’s why Shady Grove Medical Center holds the Gold Seal of Approval for behavioral health services from The Joint Commission. (That’s the nation’s largest independent accreditation agency.) This recognition means you can trust us for:

Personal care tailored to your goals
Safe, secure environment
Highly trained staff
Careful management of medicine to ensure your treatment works well
Respect for your rights and dignity
Care coordination to make sure you get all the help you need
Inclusive treatment planning

Your Care Team

Depending on your goals, you might see:

Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners – Providers who diagnose and treat mental health conditions and can prescribe medicine
Psychiatric nurses – Nurses who specialize in mental healthcare
Psychologists – Experts in human behavior and emotions who offer talk therapy
Therapists – Professionals who provide guidance and support to improve your well-being
Spiritual care providers – Chaplains who offer spiritual and emotional support
Discharge planners – Team members who help you prepare for a safe, smooth transition home or to the next level of care

Your mental health team works closely with your primary care provider. So, you receive streamlined, coordinated services.

Insurance Coverage

Feel peace of mind knowing we accept most insurance plans, including Medicare and Maryland Medicaid (Maryland Health Partners).

FAQs

What should I expect when my loved one is hospitalized?

A psychiatric inpatient hospitalization is a short term stay with a focus on crisis stabilization, medication management, and group therapy with a goal to return to baseline functioning and be able to return to the community for ongoing outpatient services/care. During their stay, your loved one will receive care from a multidisciplinary team which includes psychiatry, nursing, social work/counseling, expressive therapy, care navigation, and psychiatric technicians through group therapy and supportive treatment planning to include a comprehensive discharge plan. The length of stay can vary and is specific to individual needs and challenges. Our goal is to have patients discharge as quickly as possible, once they are stable. On average, individuals are with us 5-10 days.

The multidisciplinary treatment team will meet daily to assess and discuss your loved one’s progress toward treatment goals. If requested by your loved one, you will have an opportunity to participate in a family meeting with your loved one and the social worker/counselor. This is something to discuss with the social worker/counselor.

I have information to share with the treatment team about my family member. Who can I speak to about this?

Your primary point of contact while your loved one is with us will be their social worker/counselor Monday-Friday 8a-4:30p. Your best source of information will be your loved one themself. If you have specific questions or information to share, you can contact the main BH hospital, and you will be connected with the appropriate unit.

What is the ROI process? What does that mean?

A ROI is a Release of Information. This document gives staff permission to speak to the individual the patient identifies to share information about the patient’s care and treatment. Each patient can elect specific information that can and cannot be shared. This form is signed by the patient or legal guardian. If your loved one does not sign this form, you are still able to share relevant information with any member of the treatment team however, due to HIPAA, we would not be able to disclose patient information to you.

I left several messages for the doctor and social worker/counselor and have not received a return call? When should I expect to hear from them?

You can anticipate receiving a call back within 48 business hours assuming your loved one has completed the Release of Information.

What can I expect communication to look like during my loved one’s hospitalization?

Upon admission, you can expect to receive a call from a member of the interdisciplinary team within 72 hours, should your loved one provide consent. The frequency of further communication will be on an individualized basis. Please communicate your needs to the primary clinician.

Who is my family member’s doctor or social worker/counselor?

Your loved one’s attending psychiatrist and primary clinician (social worker/counselor) will be assigned within 24 business hours. The best way to obtain this information is to call the main unit number. Please reference unit phone numbers below:

Azalea: 301-251-4623
Seneca: 301-251-4554
Magnolia: 301-251-4660
Montgomery: 301-838-4950
Potomac: 301-251-4560
Cypress: 301-251-6040
Chesapeake: 301-251-4541
Shenandoah: 240-238-1600

My family member signed an AMA (Against Medical Advice) form, but the psychiatrist will not discharge the patient. Why not?

If your loved one elects to discharge against medical advice, they will be given an AMA form. We encourage patients to voluntarily participate in treatment to resolve their presenting symptoms. Upon receiving the completed AMA form, the treatment team will continue to assess your loved one for up to 72 hours to determine the need for continued hospitalization or discharge. Our goal is to ensure your loved one safely returns to the community.

What is the discharge plan?

Discharge planning is a coordinated effort among the interdisciplinary team and your loved one. Assuming your loved one has elected to involve you in their treatment, you will be informed of the discharge plan.

My family member reported some concerns about their experience on the unit. Who should I contact about this?

We strive to provide World Class patient care. However, if you are unsatisfied with your or your loved one’s experience, you should call the unit where your loved one is hospitalized. If you are not satisfied following this conversation, please call Patient Relations 240-826-6513.

When can I visit? What is the visitation process?

For current visitation protocols please contact the unit where your loved one is hospitalized.

What can I expect from a family meeting/discharge meeting?

If your loved one is a minor, it is mandatory to have a family meeting or safety discharge meeting with your loved one’s social worker/counselor, your loved one and most often the legal guardian pending most appropriate care. If your loved one is an adult, then this type of meeting will be determined between your loved one and their treatment team, welcoming your input should there be a Release of Information for you. Regardless of age, this meeting’s focus will be on communicating your loved one’s struggles, progress since admission, and how your loved one and you can help sustain progress and safety after discharge.

What is the role of the Education Specialist?

Our Home and Hospital Education services are designed to be a bridge between our inpatient adolescent unit and a patient’s school and family. Our services aim to build parent and teacher confidence and understanding regarding the educational needs of the individual patient. Education services can include, but are not limited to the following:

Facilitate therapeutic educational and social emotional learning groups
Facilitate 1:1 academic session with patients
Provide patients/families learning recommendation/advocacy letters post discharge to support patients’ academic needs.
Liaison with parents and schools
Provide interim academic activities
Supporting the patient’s family in understanding the special education process.
Supporting the patient’s family in understanding their child’s educational strengths and needs.
Support advocating for individual educational needs