Ex-psychiatric patients generally satisfied with treatment – survey

Sixty percent of those surveyed were men; 70% consented to hospitalization; 41% were hospitalized for up to a month; 10% were Arabic-speakers and 11% Russian- speakers.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Updated: DECEMBER 3, 2015 00:46
Doctor [Illustrative] (photo credit: INGIMAGE)
Doctor [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
A Health Ministry survey of 1,000 patients over 18 who were discharged from public psychiatric hospitals showed 68 percent general satisfaction with their treatment.
The survey, released on Wednesday, showed 91% satisfaction with the medical treatment, but only 78% with the physical conditions and 50% with being prepared adequately for being sent home.
Sixty percent of those surveyed were men; 70% consented to hospitalization; 41% were hospitalized for up to a month; 10% were Arabic-speakers and 11% Russian- speakers. For a little more than half, it was their fourth or more stay in a psychiatric hospital.
The highest general rating went to Geha Medical Center (92% satisfaction) and the lowest to Abarbanel (56%).
Most parameters improved over the 14 months of the survey.
Meanwhile, the Knesset Labor, Social Welfare and Health Committee’s subcommittee on the fivemonth- old Mental Health Reform in the Community had a noisy session on Wednesday while discussing patients’ privacy.
A Channel 2 TV report a few days ago disclosed that a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) voluntary organization called Bayit Cham treated patients for psychiatric/psychological problems while “evading” the principle set down by the reform that therapists had to inform the health fund of the diagnosis for the treatment to be paid for by the insurer. This requirement aroused much opposition among haredim, who don’t want word of mental problems to get out (so as not to complicate matches for singles).
An official from Leumit Health Services told the committee that “there is a possibility that in documents on diagnosis, the therapists are not obligated to transfer the information to medical files.
A Maccabi Health Services official said that “the default is to report on the diagnosis, but every doctor can choose whether or not to do it.” She added that one should treat different parts of the population “with sensitivity.”
Dr. Tal Bergman Levy, the Health Ministry’s chief of psychiatric services, said it “issues directives, but every health fund still has the option of deciding, as long as it meets our criteria.”
MK Michal Biran said that “all sectors are sensitive, and all deserve the same service. There is discrimination, and the ministry