Snowden at Fredericksburg

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I voluntarily had myself admitted to Mary Washington for suicidal ideations. After a short wait in the emergency room they took me over the Snowden. I saw two doctors and a nurse practitioner for medication management. They adjusted the dosage of some meds I was taking for depression and ADHD increasing some and decreasing others while putting me on some additional medication to deal with unspecified anxiety and PTSD. The nurses and techs were very professional and polite. The only bad thing I have to say is the beds aren’t the most comfortable and the temperature in some areas fluctuated between cold and warm. It was nothing that an extra blanket and sweatshirt couldn’t take care of. The food was average, breakfast was delicious, however dinner and lunch were not so good. However, if you have family that visits they can bring you food to eat in the cafeteria. I enjoyed the groups, especially art therapy. The staff does a lot of interacting to get to know the patients and teach them coping strategies. They even provide puzzles, cards, coloring sheets, and composition books to write down your feelings and to jot down coping techniques. I met with the doctor daily and my case manager Monday through Friday. They were all amazing and professional. If I needed anything all I had to do was ask and it was done. All of the people that I saw complain either broke the rules or they were admitted by the courts. I’m now doing their outpatient program and medication management to get back on my feet. Thanks for everything Snowden!

Overall my impression of this facility is 4 stars. The doctors are very knowledgeable and willing to help. The only issues I found were the nursing staff not all just a few bad apples in the mix. If you or a loved one is in need of quality emergency services seek out services with Snowden at Mary Washington Hospital.

As psychiatric “emergency hospitals” go, it’s not bad besides the fact you can’t use any tobacco on grounds. I signed myself in for a stay, knew I was probably going to be in there for a week or two (10 days to be exact), and dealt with it. Doctors and nurses are most concerned with getting medication dispensed and ordering tests to ensure a proper diagnosis...from what I remember, there were a few group therapy sessions on the wing, but nobody cared if you showed up and 90% of the time was your own anyway. That being said, you’ll probably want to attend as the only other entertainment includes one TV and a few books in the day room and a small outside courtyard. I was lucky and packed a portable AM/FM radio I could keep and listen to in my room. Only one staff member (an evening assistant nurse) and I didn’t see eye-to-eye. For being institutional cuisine, the food served was excellent and good sized portions — I have had worse meals at some good hotel restaurants! They discharged me, set me up with a P-doc and a decent therapist, and 6 years later I have yet to need a return visit...so that’s a promising sign that my time there did something. They lose a star for not allowing patients to smoke or vape even in the courtyard during my time. Don’t try it...they’ll get angry and possibly boot you out of there! I’m no expert, but I do feel (even as a person who has quit smoking since) that those hospitalized in a mental health crisis shouldn’t just be given a nicotine patch and basically told “good luck”. A large number of the mentally ill smoke, and I assure you 95% or more return to smoking after their stay on a “smoke-free campus” as MWHC calls it.

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