Higher Level of Care (HLOC) Referral
A Synergos clinician may deem that the presenting concerns a client has may warrant the need for more support than an outpatient clinical setting can provide. At this time the provider will discuss with the client the recommended level of care they believe would suit the client’s needs best, and/or assist the client in being assessed to determine what level of care would be most appropriate. Levels of care are as follows:
After making the referral to a higher level of care, and completing an assessment to determine which level of care is best for the client, the client may stop seeing their outpatient therapist while receiving higher level of care treatment. At times, and insurance permitting, continuing to see the outpatient therapist may be recommended if the client is in IOP. Parameters around returning to an outpatient level of care will be communicated, but typically include a successful discharge from the higher level of care with the treatment recommendation to return to outpatient.
If the client’s higher level of care treatment team has stayed in contact with the outpatient therapist and treatment team, it is likely that the client will not need to complete the Synergos inquiry form to get back on the waitlist. Instead, the treatment team from the higher level of care program and Synergos treatment team will discuss likely discharge date and attempt to line up scheduling to prevent lapses in treatment. If the client is in a higher level of care for longer than 90 days since their last appointment at Synergos, they will need to complete a new intake at Synergos.
If the client’s higher level of care treatment team is not in contact with Synergos during the client’s treatment, the client will need to complete the inquiry form and be added to the waitlist. We recommend completing a release of information form upon admission to higher level of care to prevent lack of communication, and to support continuity of care.
- Outpatient (“starting point”): includes individual, family/couples, and group therapy, and/or psychiatry. The frequency you meet with an outpatient provider varies but often ranges from every other week to twice weekly for therapy. For psychiatry, the frequency may be less, such as once a month to every three months.
- Intensive Outpatient (IOP): typically involves multi-disciplinary and group-based treatment with a heavy focus on coping skills and strategies. Patients generally attend between 3-5 days per week depending on need and based on recommendations from treatment providers. IOP programs are typically 3 hours per day.
- Partial Hospitalization (PHP) or Day Treatment: common “step down” from an inpatient hospitalization or residential stay. Still, it can also serve as a step up from IOP or as a first line of treatment for some individuals who require short-term stabilization but not hospitalization. Typically 5 days or evenings a week, 5-6 hours per day.
- Residential: Residential treatment is also around-the-clock care but is longer term than an inpatient stay
- Inpatient: highest level of mental health care and generally results from an Emergency Department evaluation. This type is treatment is designed to stabilize those experiencing a mental health crisis safely and who may be unable to seek support in a PHP or IOP setting
- Medical status/stability
- Safety concerns
- Weight (including trends, timeline of weight loss or gain, drastic changes, etc)
- Previous treatment history
- Ethical code
- Co-occurring mental health concerns such as substance use, depression, anxiety, etc
- High nutritional risk factors
- Ability to control compulsive exercising
After making the referral to a higher level of care, and completing an assessment to determine which level of care is best for the client, the client may stop seeing their outpatient therapist while receiving higher level of care treatment. At times, and insurance permitting, continuing to see the outpatient therapist may be recommended if the client is in IOP. Parameters around returning to an outpatient level of care will be communicated, but typically include a successful discharge from the higher level of care with the treatment recommendation to return to outpatient.
If the client’s higher level of care treatment team has stayed in contact with the outpatient therapist and treatment team, it is likely that the client will not need to complete the Synergos inquiry form to get back on the waitlist. Instead, the treatment team from the higher level of care program and Synergos treatment team will discuss likely discharge date and attempt to line up scheduling to prevent lapses in treatment. If the client is in a higher level of care for longer than 90 days since their last appointment at Synergos, they will need to complete a new intake at Synergos.
If the client’s higher level of care treatment team is not in contact with Synergos during the client’s treatment, the client will need to complete the inquiry form and be added to the waitlist. We recommend completing a release of information form upon admission to higher level of care to prevent lack of communication, and to support continuity of care.