Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System

I was on a 5150 involuntary in early February and it was terrible. I spent 20 days until I had a Writ Hearing with a judge and he deemed me suitable to be discharged. The things that the Mental Health Staff put on my chart were pure lies and I cried to hear such things said about me. I was discharged with no appointments made nor meds prescribed. They just pushed me out because I was a problem, it appeared to me. I was out 2 1/2 weeks, where I became a whistle blower about the place. I wrote multiple negative reviews to Patient Advocate. And just this past week I spent 72 hours on another involuntary 5150. I was discharged yesterday and the ward 3 South was an entirely different place. The staff said training had taken place and I noticed things had changed FOR THE BETTER. The food was and is great for institution food. So that was not the problem. There is still many improvements needed--for example, the showers I feel were designed and built at the first of this century. You can't take a shower without getting your clothes wet. No matter what you do--I used the handicap showers with a seat and water was everywhere. They made improvement on the doors of the patients' rooms which was a major issue on my first stay. The board that has the staff names on shift changes was not always updated and I admonished them and sometimes they complied. The attitude of the staff, from charge nurse, to MHS, to med nurses improved and at meal times the chaos that happened on my first stay was changed to calm and organized. That's the major changes and I feel my Whistle Blower status had a great change and improvement and I was glad to see it happen, especially for those patients who cannot or do not or are not able to speak for themselves. Thank you, API, for the improvement and continue to do CONTINUAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENT because you're no there yet but you can be a Flagship for Aurora and other institutions that serve the mental health population of San Diego county.

Despite all the negative comments My experience was the best. I was put on the North wing but was immediately transferred to the south waiting a bed for MHU. My doctor made it clear that he wants me on the MHU side. North is just ridiculous I admit there are some folks in there that need to be in jail. Lots of these people abuse the mental health system for a free roof and food. My case was I needed help and API come through I like how Audrey on south wing took care of me and estephania on the MHU covered me up when she saw that I kicked the blankets on the ground. I do admit the food has its challenges but it’s not bad for free food. I was admitted for 17 days voluntary for a SI