Kindness. Service. Healing.
Admission Process
Northern California Behavioral Health System works to ensure that the admission process is as easy as possible for our patients. Equally important is helping patients and their families feel comfortable about inpatient treatment and hospitalization.
Once a patient referral is accepted…
The admission process starts with a comprehensive evaluation completed by one of our assessment and referral clinicians.
The clinician reviews the results of the assessment with the psychiatrist to determine the appropriate level of care and support.
24/7 Assessment and Referral Services
If you haven’t scheduled an assessment yet, call now for a confidential, no-cost evaluation. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our regional Patient Services Call Center at NCBHS accepts referrals from all of Northern California.
Call us any time for help or to schedule an appointment.
Insurance information
If one of our programs is determined to be the right fit for the patient, then the clinician will contact your insurance provider, if applicable, to begin the next step in the intake process.
Patient Confidentiality
Privacy is a priority
To protect our patients’ right to privacy, each patient receives a “patient confidentiality code” upon admission.
This code will allow the staff to acknowledge that the patient is under our care.
If a patient wants to have detailed information about their hospital stay shared with anyone, the patient must sign a Release of Information form to authorize that process.
Admission Process FAQ
What information is needed for the admission process?
- Simple demographic information (address, phone number, etc.)
- Driver’s license or identification card
- Insurance card and/or information
- All current, presenting mental health issues
- Any medical conditions the individual may have
- Name and contact number for the current medical or mental healthcare provider (therapist, psychiatrist, etc.) to facilitate necessary follow-up appointments upon discharge
- For adolescents; if a legal guardian is not the biological parent, the adult guardian should bring legal documents that confirm custody of that adolescent
What happens during the admission process?
- First, one of our intake clinicians will meet with the individual being considered for treatment to do a thorough assessment, which will help us identify the program or services that will best fit that patient’s needs.
- Second, the individual will complete registration forms.
- Third, intake staff will check insurance benefits, eligibility and obtain authorization for treatment.
What happens once a client or patient is admitted?
If admitted to an inpatient unit at one of our NCBHS hospital locations, the individual will have an orientation, meet their clinicians, review the schedule of group therapies, as well as go over meal times and daily activities. Depending on when the patient arrives at the facility, it’s possible they may immediately begin their daily programming schedule, attend group meetings, and meet their psychiatrist.
If an outpatient program is more suitable, the individual will be scheduled to begin either a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), usually within a day or so of the assessment.
