Common Questions

What should I bring to the hospital?

Limit your clothing to what you will need in the course of a one-week stay. Casual clothing is recommended.

We recommend bringing:

  • Four to five changes of casual clothing without drawstrings. For women, slacks or jeans and tops or comfortable, casual dresses. For men, slacks or jeans and casual shirts. Please note that offensive or inappropriate logos will not be allowed.
  • A supply of socks and underwear that will last between three and five days. Please do not bring tube socks or leggings.
  • Bring a pair of comfortable shoes without shoelaces. Open-backed slippers are discouraged because of the high risk for falls.
  • A sweater or light jacket without drawstrings.
  • Toiletries (no glass or aluminum containers, no mirrors, no alcohol content, and no flat irons or curling irons): comb, brush, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste. The hospital can also provide toiletries if needed.
  • Unit staff must be notified at the nurses’ station whenever patient belongings are brought onto or removed from the unit. These measures are essential to the maintenance of a secure environment on the unit and can reduce incidents of lost or misplaced personal items. All disallowed items will be stored in a locker, placed in the unit safe or sent home with family or friends.
  • Please provide a list of your current prescription and over-the-counter medications, including dosages and frequency. Unless otherwise instructed by hospital staff or physicians, please leave your medications at home.

What Not To Bring:

Please leave these items at home:

  • Please do not bring jewelry, money or other valuables. Money is not needed, but patients are permitted to keep up to $10.
  • Any clothing with drawstrings is prohibited: sweatpants, running shorts, hoodies, pajamas, etc. Belts are also not allowed on pants.
  • Electronic devices such as MP3 players, radios, cell phones, alarm clocks or other items with a cord.
  • Your own pillow, blanket or stuffed animal, in order to control for infections.
  • Food and drinks from outside of the hospital. You will be provided with snacks in addition to regular meals.
  • Medications: all necessary medications will be provided by the facility. If you are not able to provide your prescription, your supply may be sent from home.
  • Luggage should be taken home by family or friends once the patient is admitted. If luggage is left, it must be properly labeled for storage.

Austin Oaks Hospital is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged articles unless fully described and deposited in the Austin Oaks Hospital safe and a receipt is issued.

When you enter the admission area, you will be greeted by a hospital staff member. Adults and children/adolescents have separate waiting areas in our facility. An admissions nurse will meet with you and explain the admission process. Please be prepared to spend 30 to 60 minutes completing initial paperwork. At this time, staff will discuss which items are allowed on the unit. Patients will be seen by their psychiatrist within 24 hours of admission.

Please be prepared to bring:

  • Form of ID
  • Insurance card
  • Emergency contact information
  • List of current prescription medications
  • Medical Power of Attorney or Guardianship Paperwork
Visitors: No in-person visitation due to COVID-19 safety precautions. Thank you for your understanding and compliance.

Phone privileges: Phone calls can be made and received during set times. Patients may not make or receive calls during scheduled group times. Staff will be available to help patients make and receive calls, and patients must remain within sight of a staff member while using the cordless phones. Calls will be limited to 10 minutes to ensure that all patients have access to the patient phones.

  • Therapeutic Community: Austin Oaks Hospital’s inpatient care operates on a therapeutic community model. This model emphasizes the need for each individual to take responsibility for their own behavior and to accept the positive and negative consequences of their choices.
  • Inpatient Therapeutic Treatments
  • Individual Therapy: The psychiatrist will supervise each patient’s care and see the patient in individual sessions at least six days per week. Many patients will receive a recommendation for outpatient individual counseling and the patient’s social worker will assist with selecting a suitable outpatient counselor.
  • Case Management: A social worker will be assigned to manage each patient’s case throughout that patient’s hospitalization.
  • Group Therapy: Patients will be assigned to a therapy group based on the types of issues that brought the patient to the program. Types of group therapy include cognitive behavior, interpersonal relationships, coping skills, assertiveness, anger management and psychoeducation.
  • Family Therapy: A structured family meeting will be arranged if the patient and treatment team determine that a family meeting would have therapeutic benefit.
  • Therapeutic Recreation Group: Recreation therapy utilizes various activities as a form of active treatment to promote the improvement of a patient’s health and well-being, thus enhancing a patient’s quality of life and productivity. Therapeutic Recreation interventions include self-expression, stress management, problem-solving, resource education, social skills, and journaling and leisure/recreation skills.
  • Psycho-Education Group: Provides patients with valuable information and education regarding diagnosis, medication stabilization, wellness, and behavior management techniques.
  • Spiritual Care: Many patients turn to spiritual resources during illness and benefit from spiritual counseling during their hospitalization. Our Chaplain is trained to encourage beneficial spiritual coping processes and help patients and families draw upon their spiritual and religious resources to more effectively manage difficult emotions.
  • Healing Arts techniques such as Yoga and Tai Chi
We are an approved provider for most major insurance companies including Medicare, TRICARE®, and Managed Care Plans. Our admissions staff is available 24/7 to address any concerns you may have about your specific coverage. Please feel free to call 512-440-4800 to discuss more. Austin Oaks works closely with patients, their families, agency representatives, insurance companies, EAPs and managed care providers to determine all possible payment options. In addition, Austin Oaks will accept direct payment of fees for individuals who do not have or want to use insurance.

TRICARE® is a registered trademark of the Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency. All rights reserved.

Austin Oaks Hospital treats patients with mild to moderate dementia who are still able to benefit from active treatment and group therapy. Our admissions staff will help families assess a patient’s level of participation.

We are your trusted partner serving the Behavioral Healthcare needs of our community

Call 512-440-4800 and speak with a wellness expert in our intake office.

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