When you are in need of extensive and intensive treatment for your mental health, your doctor or therapist may recommend partial hospitalization program services (PHP). However, given the current social and public health climate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may find yourself wondering what you might be able to expect from PHP at this time. Learn more about what you can expect from PHP services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, you can be better prepared if and when your caregivers refer you to a partial hospitalization program.

Expect to Wear a Mask

One of the main things to keep in mind when you are getting PHP services during the pandemic is that you will almost certainly be required to wear a mask at all times during treatment. This is a common hospital policy to require masks during the pandemic. This is a measure to keep you safe and those around you safe as well. Hospitals are full of sick people and germs can be transmitted even when you are in a program that is not about physical health ailments. 

Make sure you have enough masks to have a clean one each day of the week in treatment. Do not re-wear masks from the previous day without washing them. This will help to ensure that you avoid contracting COVID-19 or another contagious illness while in PHP services. 

Expect Smaller Groups

If you have been in a PHP before, you may remember that the group can get quite large. Some are upwards of 20 people. However, in the COVID-19 pandemic, expect the group size to be quite restricted. Some may only allow 8 or 9 participants (putting the room total at 9 or 10 including the caregiver leading group). 

Again, this is a common safety measure during the pandemic. The smaller the group, the more space you can have between people and the lower the risk of transmitting COVID-19 or other illnesses like the flu to one another. 

The smaller group setting can be quite beneficial to you in your treatment as well. You will get more opportunities to share and speak than you would in a larger group setting and can be more engaged in treatment than you might be otherwise. 

Expect the Same Standard of Care

Finally, one thing to avoid worrying about is the standard of care you will receive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just because things will be a bit different, does not mean that your care and treatment will suffer as a result. The groups and information you will receive will maintain the highest possible quality and you will get the same care and attention you would get in PHP services at any other time. The setting and size of the group may just be different.

Now that you know more of what to expect from PHP services during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can be prepared for your next appointment.