State (NJ) Says Ancora Could Be Better.
Brick resident Derrick Raymond, 28, has been a patient at Ancora several times since 2002. He said he is trying to overcome manic depression exacerbated by substance abuse problems. Raymond, who spent 28 days at the hospital in December, said he noticed few improvements. “The treatment hasn’t improved there,” Raymond said. “They are just releasing people to improve their statistics.”
Raymond said one of his therapy groups spent days watching the movie “Super Size Me,” a 2004 movie made by a documentary filmmaker who ate nothing but McDonald’s meals for 30 days. “I felt really well-treated after watching that a few times,” Raymond said. “. . . You’re basically expected to sit there and do nothing.” Raymond said there is a “violent tension” in the air at the hospital. He said he witnessed frequent fights that involved both patients and staff members.
Despite reducing admissions by 23% and adding more staff, there were 1,911 assaults in Ancora in 2008, a 52 percent increase from the 1,256 reported in 2006.
Tags: ancora psychiatric hospital, dangerous hospital, nurse assault, patient violence, workplace violence