UW Medicine Inpatient Psychiatry at Harborview - Seattle, WA

Libbie F.

I really didn't have a good experience here. I brought myself due to a mental breakdown, nothing too serious just depression, but I still felt like I needed immediate support and care. The location was a bit confusing so I called the office but they told me to just call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, I felt like I wasn't heard when I said I was on the sidewalk but couldn't find the entrance. As a young woman struggling with mental health crisis wandering around at night doesn't feel safe :/ I found the entrance and was checked in and was hopeful to get support. I was walked back into this 8x8 gray room with just a bed and blacked out windows and was instructed to strip and change. I was compliant but the woman was really rude and strict. I understand that there's a proper composure when working in a mental hospital but I feel like there was zero respect being reciporcated. I had to leave urine and I asked for socks so I didn't have to walk with bare feet through the hall and in the bathroom and it was a fight to get socks from her. Definitely not a relaxing environment for those struggling with mental health crisis. They treated me like I was crazy even when I did everything they told me to. Being isolated in a small room was not helpful to me as well as feeling like all the staff there thought I was crazy.

It took a while to talk with the social worker but he got me in touch with some recourses. On my way out the woman walked me out and I stared that I lost my earring and had to put it in also had to use the restroom and she walked me out and said that I had to leave because I was discharged and that I was no longer welcome there. I went outside and sat down and she told me that I had to walk away. I explained that I was calling my ride and she talked over me.

I left feeling more hopeless. I do, however, think that there is room for better practice. Communication is important and I felt like my providers didn't care about me as their patient which is disappointing since I needed support and care so I chose to being myself in. I think that using different approaches for different patients is key for de-escalation and providing care, maybe being able to ask questions about why I feel how I do or offering advice for grounding would be more beneficial than being shut alone in a small room for a couple hours. I really think that this facility needs to be adjusted in the way they treat their patients and there needs to be a higher level of training to avoid creating more trauma for patients. I feel deeply traumatized.

Anita M.

I arrived in the inpatient 5 West B.
Initially most staff were supportive, caring, as I was in pretty bad shape.
I was recovering physically,
So being in such a state physically ,
I hadn't much trouble as some of the psychotic staff (just a handful), had nothing to be jealous of yet... you say jealous? Yes.
Because as I improved, and was able to (Self Care), improve my appearance, something that they TALK about, as important. Of Course!!!
I was able to apply makeup, and was beginning to feel better about. My future.
A "Nurse", Lynette walked into my room and Said "Anita, I don't wear makeup; who am I trying to impress? She was making a dig at me,
I'm the only one in my room wearing makeup🤣😐.
And earlier on another wonderful visit from LYNETTE;
She stated, (and I don't know why she would admit this to anyone; )
That some patients called her Nurse Ratchet:
I felt cornered and intimidated .. ....
Was I really in inpatient to be criticized;
WOW, one Sick woman.

The professional Nurses just a handful ,
Tina, Lisa, Daniel, are the best. Most authentic. Brad was a good guy. And my doctor Stephanie was sweet and very Professional. The Few...good. ❤️
Used a different approach;
Build the patient up. Say something comforting, encouraging about my progress. That is Supposed to be the job description 🙄
Lynette also took my Medications bracelet, instead of tossing it in the garbage.
To replace with a new one,
But pocketed it.
Allowing her to get into my Files and Type away any disgusting and disreputable lies.
My Doctor Stephanie who amended it;
My diagnosis was amended. Dr. Stephanie said she never wrote those Slanderous words.

(BTW, I had to write to Stephanie my doctor after release, to ammend my discharge notes.)

Major Depressive episode with (NO) psychotic features. Period. Thank you Dr. Stephanie for amending this
I have reason to believe,
As Lynette and Max, another psychotic Nurse, who was in charge of my discharge.
With all the junk written in my Diagnosis,
Made sure not to give me the documents to sign until my son, whom he failed to tell me my son was already waiting downstairs,
So that I wouldn't have time to*Read*what I was signing.
He also moved me to a new room just 2 days before discharge. I couldn't get around in ( I was in a wheelchair),
and had a roommate, the walker I used at night, didn't fit past the bed so I couldn't use it to go pee.
Watch out for Lynette and Max.

I was a patient and my doctor said I had NO Psychosis .Yes of course I had alot of mishandling by various staff. And I did need help; and did experience abuse.

(Thank God my doctor was genuine. )

There are staff who shouldn't be "helping ",🤪
But really need Help themselves..

I have to mention the Social worker,
Lucia.
Because of her (invisibility), she joked about with the charge nurse Rickey as she walked by, saying " I'm trying to be invisible today. "
She sat in her little baracaded "office "
Unreachable to myself and my sons inquiring as to why it's 3 weeks past my doctors approval for me to be discharged.

She failed to find out the financial status of being admit able to a nursing facility, for continued care.
I was literally in that (Awful situation), being there, when I no longer needed to be. And that began to drag on me mentally.
As some very dangerous people were admitted to the unit. Violence was becoming a problem and was terrifying 😳
All that could have been avoided,
Had LUCIA***Done her JOB!!

I wonder what that did for the Hospital, that were inriched financially,
Off my insurance.

Lucia, was Guilty of ripping off the insurance company. 3 weeks of unnecessary bill charging.my insurance 😑
And 3 weeks with patients who punched walls shouted obscenities,

And..Don't be surprised if a Charge Nurse is telling you he checked on you while you were sleeping..
...When you are vulnerable. Open to help 🤔
Annnd
Oh No. Oh no ..Nurse Sue said "Are you happy now" in regards to my suicide attempt. She's worth a Nickle.

A S.

This was over 10 years ago so do with it what you will. Negative 12 billion stars. Overall, I experienced additional trauma. I was involuntarily admitted with one of the most severe cases of catatonia they had ever seen; completely retreated from waking reality. All of my basic needs had to be carried out by others. There were a couple Angels that helped me survive and eventually come out of my catatonia, but the majority of staff outright abused me, especially while I was still Catatonic. Emotionally, psychologically, and physically. It's taken this many years of therapy to post this.

If you have a family member here, do not be afraid to challenge the staff if something seems off. It probably is. If I didn't have family advocating for me, I never would have made it out. I had the added benefit of someone who worked in social services for the mentally ill. Harbor view had a loooooong way to go in understanding how to heal trauma. I hope things have changed, but I haven't seen any evidence.

Ian D.

Hey, if you're anything like me, sitting here staring at Google reviews and wondering if it's even worth it to try and get help, let me tell you, it absolutely is and this is a great place to get it. I don't want to take away from the experiences of any of the other reviewers here, but this place absolutely does not deserve a 1.3, all the nurses and staff were incredibly respectful and in the week I was there, they got me health coverage and set me up with an outpatient therapist for ongoing care, accomodated my food needs as an autistic person, and were incredibly respectful of my gender identity. Please please please, if you need help, go here and get it, you won't regret it

Star B.

Entered due to trauma and left with a hell of a lot more. I had a near death experience and was held here afterwards to be evaluated for self harm risk and I began to question what I was even seeing around me (btw no psychosis involved). They treated some patients with such a lack of human decency I thought I had died and was in hell.

Jake S.

I've been to some bad hospitals, but this place takes the cake.

Kimberly S.

Sheer terror!

nisa H.