What to Expect

Seeking behavioral health treatment for yourself or a loved one is an important step towards healing. However, the process may be intimidating or confusing.

Patients gathered in intensive outpatient program (IOP)

FAQ About Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital

We have compiled some frequently asked questions to help address any questions or concerns you may have regarding, assessments, referrals, admissions and treatment.

We welcome referrals by medical or mental health caregivers, case managers, employee assistance programs, family members, community agencies, school counselors, hospitals, clergy, friends and patients themselves. Emergency mental health services and assessments are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you would like further information, call our assessment and referral specialists at 850-763-0017.

What is needed while at the hospital?

  • Current identification and insurance cards
  • Current medications or list of current medications (name of medication, strength of medication and how often you are to take the medication)
  • If you are on a narcotic medication/pain medication, be sure to bring that medication with you
  • If you are on a specialty medication such as a medication for blood disorder, blood thinner, thyroid issues, etc. (or if you have a particular medication that you are concerned that the facility may not carry), bring these with you and staff can verify what medications are available through our facility pharmacy
  • Emergency contact information
  • 3 complete outfits (with no strings, wires or metal pieces); comfortable clothing is recommended
  • 1 set of pajamas (no strings)
  • A light jacket or sweatshirt (no hood or strings) if you are cold-natured, as unit temperatures may be cool
  • Shoes with no laces and no steel tip shoes (comfortable slip-on shoes are recommended)
  • If you are a cigarette smoker or consume tobacco products, you may bring those in for consumption during designated break times (however, no electronic cigarettes permitted)
  • Paperback books and magazines

Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital recommends that you leave all valuables at home. However, if you must have your valuables here at the facility during your hospitalization, those items will be inventoried in front of you and secured in the hospital safe during the admission process. Again, it is highly recommended that you leave valuables at home (purse, wallet, keys, money, credit/debit cards, etc.) because you will not have access to them during your stay. Your other belongings, such as clothing, medications and other personal items, will be inventoried during the admission process. The hospital cannot be responsible for lost or missing items. The safety of our patients is our top priority for us at Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital. We hope any inconvenience caused by our safety protocols will be minimal.

If you have any questions or need additional information on what items to bring with you/leave at home, please call Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital at 850-763-0017 to get clarification prior to arriving to the facility.

  • Razor blades of any kind (we provide safety razors)
  • Knives, scissors and similar items (e.g., ice picks, screwdrivers, other sharp objects)
  • Firearms and ammunitions
  • Alcohol, illicit drugs and paraphernalia
  • Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs, vape pens)
  • Lighters and matches
  • Clothing with lacing, cords, drawstrings or wire supports
  • Underwire bras (otherwise staff will request to remove wires from bra)
  • Hangers, belts and shoelaces
  • Steel toed boots/shoes
  • Large heavy jewelry
  • Removable piercings
  • Toiletries and personal hygiene products (these items will be provided to you)
  • Nail files/clippers
  • Stuffed animals, pillows and blankets
  • Glass items (except eyeglasses)
  • Mirrors (including ones in compacts)
  • Needles, hooks and pins
  • Metal cans and breakable hard plastic
  • Aerosol cans
  • Ropes, chains and other items with cords
  • Keys and keychains
  • Electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, laptops, iPods, iPads, cameras, gaming systems, radios, etc.)
  • Headphones
  • Food, candy or beverages of any kind

The treatment team does have the right to add items to this list when it is deemed it is in the best interest of the patient.

Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital recommends that you leave all valuables at home. However, if you must have your valuables here at the facility during your hospitalization, those items will be inventoried in front of you and secured in the hospital safe during the admission process. Again, it is highly recommended that you leave valuables at home (purse, wallet, keys, money, credit/debit cards, etc.) because you will not have access to them during your stay. Your other belongings, such as clothing, medications and other personal items, will be inventoried during the admission process. The hospital cannot be responsible for lost or missing items. The safety of our patients is our top priority for us at Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital. We hope any inconvenience caused by our safety protocols will be minimal.

Due to the longer length of stay for our Military Resiliency Program, we recommend bringing the following items with you:

  • ID/CAC card
  • Name, address and phone number of current and previous therapists and doctors, command, etc.
  • All prescribed and over-the-counter medication you are currently taking
  • Medical information regarding any allergies you have to medications, food or other sources
  • Comfortable clothing for one week (e.g., jeans, sweatpants, t-shirts, pajamas)
    *no strings or underwire allowed in clothing; slip-on shoes are recommended
  • Physical fitness clothing, including shoes (shoe strings are allowed in sneakers or tennis shoes. These items will be secured when not in use and checked in/out for physical training)
  • Light jacket or sweatshirt as unit temperature may be cool
  • Hygiene items/toiletries (these items will be secured when not in use and checked in/out for personal hygiene time)
  • Unopened cigarettes and/or chewing tobacco (please bring 3-4 weeks’ worth for your stay). Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs, vape pens) are not permitted
  • Appropriate reading material
  • Family pictures (no glass frames)
  • CPAP machine, if prescribed
  • Cell phones are authorized but will be secured

Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital recommends that you leave all valuables at home. However, if you must have your valuables here at the facility during your hospitalization, those items will be inventoried in front of you and secured in the hospital safe during the admission process. Again, it is highly recommended that you leave valuables at home (purse, wallet, keys, money, credit/debit cards, etc.) because you will not have access to them during your stay. Your other belongings, such as clothing, medications and other personal items will be inventoried during the admission process. The hospital cannot be responsible for lost or missing items. The safety of our patients is our top priority for us at Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital. We hope any inconvenience caused by our safety protocols will be minimal.

If you have questions/concerns of what items are approved, please call the Military Resiliency Unit directly at 850-532-6485 for clarification prior to arriving to the facility.

Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital understands the importance of being able to visit loved ones during an inpatient stay. View our visitation hours by unit:

Visitation Schedule

View our patient phone times by unit:

Patient Phone Times

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