Chapter Six

In-Patient Programs

Some Veterans who have currant substance abuse problems may likely be scheduled for an inpatient program (SUPT). The normal period of stay is 90 days. Some Patients stay can be longer depending upon the Veterans willingness and commitment to stop using! Studies indicate Veterans are more successful at overcoming the substance abuse problem as a patient in a SUPT rather than trying to regain normal control as an outpatient at a PCT Unit. If you are asked to be admitted into a SUPT by all means GO!

During an inpatient stay you have the opportunity to work on substance abuse problems as well as PTSD issues. You work on these issues through treatment elements or modules. Some modules may be mandatory, selectively prescribed or voluntary. Treatment teams gather data for each specific treatment element to include information on: 1) the social composition of the activity (who participates), 2) the primary clinical emphasis of the activity (exploratory-expressive; psycho-educational; behavioral; etc.), 3)whether the activity takes place inside or outside the hospital, 4) whether the activity is mandatory, selectively prescribed or voluntary, and 5) the percentage of time spent addressing each of five specific content areas.

The five specific content areas are i) PTSD symptoms, ii) war experiences, iii) substance abuse, iv) general life problems and v) interpersonal relationships. The information the clinical teams maintain about you is important for your claim for compensation for PTSD.

Some examples of elements or modules are individual therapy with a doctor or clinical psychologist or group psychotherapy. There may be activities such as model building, leather crafts, pottery, art, etc. There may be leisure time modules for playing pool (pocket billiards), cards, checkers, etc. Theses modules would take place at the hospital. Outside activities could include going out to dinner or going to a theater etc.

It is good and helpful for you to participate in as many elements of the modules as you can, however it is not helpful if you mask your true PTSD symptoms and act like life is great and everything is wonderful. If you act as if nothing is wrong, you will be considered cured and sent away from the program improperly diagnosed (not having PTSD sever and chronic). Patients with PTSD are quick to be angered and display that anger. They rarely trust anyone, especially authority figures. They are usually depressed and have a difficulty with the ability to relate their feelings to others (doctors and psychologist), because they are not in touch with themselves.

If you go to an inpatient PTSD or PTSD Substance Abuse Program above all, be certain to request (and get) copies of all your medical records before you leave. To do this have a doctor sign a "Release of Information Act" form. Explain to him you want copies of your medical records and by law you have a right to those copies. After a doctor signs a "Release of Information Act" form take it to the Records Division of the hospital and present them with the form. DO NOT have them mail your records any where. Tell them you want the records. They may tell you it will take a day of so. Tell them that is fine you will be back to pick them up. DO NOT let them do anything less than provide YOU with those records. Don’t let them tell you it will take a month or two for them to get the copies made. That's bull. Above all else, when you leave that program you leave with copies of your records in hand. You will need these records to help with your claim for PTSD.

Also, if you spend more than 21 (twenty one) days in a VA Hospital for a service connected illness you will automatically receive temporary compensation at the same rate as someone 100% disabled.

Example: Suppose you are 10% service connected for PTSD. You are admitted into the hospital for treatment of PTSD. After you have been in the hospital for twenty one days you are considered temporarily 100% disabled. Thus, if you stayed in the hospital for three months, you would receive Payment at a one hundred percent rating for those three months.