Assessment & Referral

Twenty-four hour, 7 day a week availability of front-end services provides ease of entry into the continuum of care offered by Fort Lauderdale Hospital. Assessment and Referral is staffed by Master's and Doctoral-level Clinicians and Registered Nurses. These individuals meet with the patient and his or her identified supports if available to fully review the presenting symptoms and associated events in formulating a summary of findings for the attending psychiatrist. The patient is provided with an overview of these findings along with a summary of treatment options available for the patient. This assessment process is provided free of charge without regard to insurance coverage or ability to pay. Once treatment recommendations are formulated, the staff work with the individual to ascertain the best source of treatment available to the patient with consideration of financial reimbursement.

Fort Lauderdale Hospital is designated as a Baker Act and Marchman Act receiving facility. As such, patients may be admitted to the inpatient programs either voluntarily or involuntarily. Mental Health Court proceedings for those patients admitted involuntarily are conducted on site every week.

Professionals from the Business Office assist the Assessment and Referral Coordinators in ascertaining the optimal treatment available to meet the patient's financial considerations. Fort Lauderdale Hospital is a Medicare treatment provider. In addition, the facility maintains exceptional relations with a long list of private insurance companies. Coordinators will, at the time of assessment, interface with representatives from the insurance carrier to ensure that the patient is being given the best possible option for treatment. At times, this entails referral to another program in the South Florida area. In these cases, our staff work on behalf of the patient to ensure a smooth and comfortable transfer to that level of care.

Fort Lauderdale Hospital provides a variety of treatment programs on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Entry into any level of care begins with an assessment. The continuum of care offered by the hospital is fluid, such that patients may enter treatment at any level and transfer within the continuum based on their individual circumstances. Length of stay in any level of treatment is dependent upon the patient's clinical condition. Decisions of this nature are made by the patient in concert with the treatment team.

Every effort is made by the staff of Assessment and Referral to make your contact with us as comfortable as possible. All inquires are handled with the highest level of respect. Our professional staff strictly adheres to the laws of confidentiality. You can be assured that you will be treated with courtesy at all times. It is often said that the hardest part of treatment is making the decision to initiate the process. Today, give yourself the gift of well-being. Make a call to us to see how we can help you in the process.