Being a teenager in a residential treatment center for behavioral health issues is challenging. But it is even more difficult when you add a chronic disease to the equation.
Ashley* is a teenager who is currently receiving treatment at Hallmark Youthcare (HYC) for substance use. She came to HYC through a referral from a family support employee at another facility that wasn’t appropriate to treat her current conditions.
Ashley has a chronic disease and requires infusions every four weeks at a large medical center, which is two hours away from HYC. To further complicate her situation, her mom, Ms. Taylor*, was pregnant at the time Ashley was admitted to Hallmark Youthcare and had difficulty driving the hour to HYC, then transporting Ashley two more hours to her needed treatment. Hallmark Youthcare stepped in and offered to provide transportation for Ashley.
Brenda Gibbon, Director of Medical Records at HYC, first mentioned transportation services to Ashley. Initially, Ms. Gibbon sought to help the family on her initial appointment, but quickly realized that the family needed ongoing assistance.
“We try to provide excellent customer service. Families and caregivers go through a lot, and we do what we can to help them,” says Ms. Gibbon. “We go out of our way to help the child.”
John Taylor “JT”, a HYC employee who provides transportation, is helpful and motivational for Ashley. Not only does he drive her to her appointments, but he escorts her to the fifth floor to meet her mom.
“JT and Brenda have been so helpful and never make Ashley feel like a burden,” says Ms. Taylor. “JT doesn’t just provide transportation; he gives her pep talks. There was a special encouraging discussion when Ashley was going to her first home visit.”
“At Hallmark Youthcare, we look at how we can help the residents and their families,” says Ms. Gibbons. “We reviewed the appointments and rearranged them so that they could accommodate the resident and her family. We try to take some of the worry off the family.”
Additionally, Ms. Gibbons says, “We take on the responsibility of caring for the residents while they are here, so we should do what we can to help them.”
Ashley has been in treatment at HYC for approximately eight months and hopes to complete treatment in time to be home for Christmas.
For more information on the residential youth services offered at Hallmark Youthcare, please call 804-784-6432 or visit hallmarkyouthcare.org.
*Names have been changed to protect patient confidentiality.
