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If you or someone you care about is considering hospital care, please contact Michael Granata, Administrative Director, at (877) 844-8272, or Dr. Keith Valone, Clinical Director, at (626) 676-7401 for a free telephone screening. Either Dr. Valone or Mr. Granata would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding choice of hospital, selection of doctors, level of hospital care, types of services delivered, expenses, pre-admission arrangements, post-discharge treatment plans, and any other questions that you may have. Our staff is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, unless otherwise specified on their voicemails.
Once the patient, or in some cases his or her family members, has determined the need for hospitalization, several decisions will follow:
- A doctor will be selected. Each TAPA Clinical Associate has core competency in treating dual diagnosis patients, and each associate has specialty skills as well. If the patient does not have a chemical dependency diagnosis, the Clinical Associate who specializes in the patient's psychiatric condition will be recommended. Please go to the About TAPA/Professional Staff tab for more information on each TAPA Clinical Associate. Dr. Valone will make a recommendation as to which doctor might be best matched to provide care during the screening process, and a final decision will be made by the patient, in some cases with input by his or her family.
- A hospital will be selected. TAPA Clinical Associates have attending/co-attending privileges at two hospitals in the Los Angeles area. The choice of hospital will depend on various factors including costs and services delivered.
- Pre-admission administrative procedures must be completed with our Administrative Director, Mr. Michael Granata, at (626) 405-9292.
As these decisions are made, the TAPA Clinical Associate who will be working with the patient will be directing the intake procedure, along with Mr. Granata, to ensure as smooth a hospital admission as possible. Once the patient is admitted to the hospital, the TAPA Clinical Associate will be responsible for all aspects of psychological care to ensure that the patient is having the best treatment experience that we are able to provide.
As hospital treatment ensues, the patient will be seen daily by the primary TAPA Clinical Associate (or the on-call weekend associate) to provide maximum continuity of care. The patient’s needs and concerns thus will be addressed in an immediate fashion. With the patient’s permission, family members will be kept informed on a routine basis as well. If there is a need for extensive consultation with family members, separate sessions will be scheduled with family members to meet these needs or to provide family therapy. Family involvement is encouraged throughout the patient’s hospital stay.
Discharge planning begins at hospital admission, as hospital treatment is typically for acute, not long-term, care. Plans for post-hospital care (aftercare) are made as soon as clinically appropriate, and may include a “step-down” to a residential treatment center (RTC), a sober living home, back to the patient’s home or apartment, or back to the patient’s home community. Such plans are always made in extensive consultation with patient and family.
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