Cottonwood Creek Behavioral Hospital – Meridian

they abuse patients. don't trust them with your loved ones. after one brief stay, i got too many horror stories to recount, honestly. if you're going here, just keep your head down and don't try to talk to the nurses.… if you do try to speak to them, they'll shout at you (saw it happen to one patient three times in the span of a week, and in every case, it was the staff that escalated the situation) expect them to extend your stay with an involuntary hold at least once, even if you're in a good mental state, polite, and are totally complying with their program. they *will* make up random nonsense to keep your head in the bed and keep that insurance money rolling in, and your stay will continue for as long as they think they can get away with. they're champing at the bit to turn a voluntary stay into a state-mandated hold over any minor interaction one patient got threatened with an extended stay for asking their doctor questions about their medication. and i say "threatened", because the statement was explicitly made as a form of retaliation -- doc at this behavioral hospital was mad that he had to be wasting time on a mental patient, and this was the most damage he figured he could do in front of witnesses. and yeah, it worked as a threat; almost everybody in the place was trying their best to get out so they could try to get real help someplace else. and of course, the doctor got what he wanted, because the patient didn't make the mistake of asking about medication again. good for him. they abuse patients. don't trust them with your loved ones. pro tip: you can call the patient advocate line anytime. if they shove a paper in your face and say you're "not allowed until you fill it out", that's actually against the company policy. they're trying to scare you off from exposing their behaviour. do your best to not let them get away with that. pro-er tip: the patient advocate will rile up the staff, who will do the only thing they ever do during an interaction with a patient: make excuses for their incompetence, jadedness, and total lack of professionalism if the other patients hadn't been so supportive, i would have come out with zero faith in humanity and zero faith that a better life is even possible you have any idea how many of the daily group therapy sessions were spent just listening to a social worker explain why it's not their fault that this place is run like a nightmare? many. and is that really teaching me anything about coping skills or helping me with resources? it's real bad do yourself a favor and try to find a case manager who can help you instead. because at Cottonwood -- they abuse patients. don't trust them with your loved ones.

I had an extremely concerning experience with this facility. During my stay, I requested my medical records and was not provided them. I continued requesting my records after discharge, including asking for the… appropriate records request form, but have still had difficulty obtaining them and have repeatedly been sent to voicemail. I have also reviewed my insurance claim and found charges for services that I believe were not actually provided to me. My insurance was billed over $11,000, with more than $1,500 listed as my responsibility. I am formally disputing the billing and requesting documentation supporting the services billed. Patients should be able to obtain their records and understand exactly what they and their insurance company are being charged for. My experience trying to get answers and documentation has been incredibly frustrating and concerning.

Bad

When I was searching for help for my child I heard negative things about this place but once she was treated there inpatient it was all positive. My child got the help she needed with a caring staff and updates from… nurses and doctors when needed. Thank you cottonwood

Being in a mental facility is a weird experience no matter how it goes for you. But the care I received at this hospital stopped my postpartum hallucinations. My assigned doctor, Dr. Crum, was very kind to me, listened… to what I was saying, and got me on the right path with medications. I could not be more grateful for how this has changed my trajectory, and neither could my family. That being said, my minor complaints are: 1. It was somehow missed that I had an allergy for the first couple of days I was there, and I hadn't been inpatient before, so I didn't know what to do about it. At some point I told the med nurse I was dizzy and thought maybe my blood sugar was low as I hadn't had a proper meal in a minute, and she was flabbergasted. It DID get sorted. 2. Some of the techs were worse than others. Most were pleasant. In particular there was one that was constantly on her phone while she was sitting there watching us in the recreational area. One of the other patients called her out like "hey, if we can't have ours, why do you have yours out?" and she then responded with something along the lines of "you need to get better" in a snarky tone. I know the reality is that you aren't allowed your phone as a patient, but when we're all bored out of our minds (and mild to moderately unhinged), you shouldn't be over against the wall, absorbed, when your job is to be watching us. And the audacity to tell us to "get better" in that tone when we're in inpatient care? My jaw was dropped. 3. The stress of meeting with financial people about how you're going to put a large sum of money down in the next day or two with no access to say, your bank accounts, was unnecessary. Beyond that, the financial lady I had was honestly an experience. When I told her that amount of money just wasn't possible, I got told they'd charge me interest if I didn't pay it. I asked her how much interest, because if I put it on my credit card it's at 30%, so maybe it'd be cheaper to let it sit and accrue interest there instead of trying to pay it off immediately with my emergency account. My credit limit wasn't high enough anyways. She didn't have a number for me and got frustrated with my thought process. She kept re-iterating that I need to pay x amount when I leave. I kept telling her that I did not have that amount of money in my account to give her. She eventually lectured me about how it would go to collections. Okay, fair enough. The next day (maybe two days later?) we went through the same thing, then she asked me if I could call anybody and see about borrowing the money, *if* I truly had no other way to pay it. It was like she was insinuating that I did have the money? It was all very high pressure. I stepped out to get a phone and call my spouse to discuss our options. I took the call in the hallway and not in our little room to avoid her staring me down while I ran through a list of hypotheticals. When I came back to the room she seemed surprised. Then I informed her that I still didn't have any new options and she again became frustrated and lectured me about collections. Maybe I handled it poorly, but at that point I was like "cool, sounds like that's our plan, send me to collections then, see you later." To have more meetings with the financial people than you do with some others on your care team sends an interesting message, and to have the payment deadline be at the time of release is insanity in my opinion. Please consider making the deadline a few days or a week out from release. "Ideally, we'd like payment when you make your exit from the facility, but you can come back any time in the next three days to make that payment with no penalties. This gives you a chance to make arrangements when you have access to full resources." This would alleviate patient stress during what is already a time of crisis.

There is nobody here that is actually interested in helping you get better. The doctor spent 5 minutes diagnosing and then pumped medications. The staff are talk to themselves or do their homework instead of checking on… the safety of people. Bring up concerns and they respond with contempt.. I was here on an involuntary hold - the state team that evaluates you in that situation cleared me for release and the doctor told them he agreed, then when the paperwork was done immediately put me on a new hold. I stopped all medicine immediately after leaving and as expected, the behavior that put me there was a bad reaction to another medicine I was taking before hand. I tried to explain this but in the 5 minute diagnostic talks the doctor would not listen and just came in and out with an I know best attitude. Talked to people there that had been years past and said the place had gone downhill significantly.

They use security/safety/meds/restriction as a means to carry out hostility, retaliation, coercion, abuse and punishment/degradation. They hide behind "privacy" to dodge accountability even if no privacy would be… violated.

i do give this place a one star. it’s not as bad as zero star, i was voluntarily there in the adult unit. and the things i have to say is the staff have the egos of a god, they act as if you are 5, the tech nurses are… extremely rude. the only one that i truly loved was dusty. the rest could care less if you were there or not. I made a few friends in there and me and her would both get yelled at for asking for WATER. they treat you as if you are prisoners in jail, there’s no real therapy and your doctor only sees you for 5 minutes, my doctor was very nice, but there was no real therapy. if you don’t want to be medicated they will make you be medicated. and you will stay longer, they also lack huge communication with family and loved ones, my friend also did not see her social worker for 4 days, their food is horrible, and their sleeping situations are also horrible. if you’re really struggling with mental issues do not go here nor send your loved ones here.

I was going to complain about the first time I was there, but I’m not. I’m just want to say this. I went in both times things I was getting help that I needed. I was more of a dollar sign. Both times an i was checking… in, I had to take my cloths off to make sure I wasn’t smuggling anything in, treated like crap by the teenage techs, nurses who went to schools that sounded like Disney start ups, all in all I felt totally degraded. I switch where I was going because I never got the help I needed. I’m an adult who can advocate for myself, but how can this get away with treating people terrible. This place im in, they spent time with me asking questions about my history. In a little over an hours time, I discovered that I have bipolar 2. Shame on you cottonwood, you guys would have a better reputation if you actually cared. I had the choice to go somewhere else, allot of people dont

I've been at this place twice in the last few months. The second time, I went in really depressed. I started to realize this time what a joke this place is. It just feels like they just want to get you as medicated as… possible so they-won't have to work to find out what's really going on in.There's only a few staff members there who actually will take the time to listen. You see a psychiatrist for about 5 minutes a day, maybe a social worker every 3 days for 5 minutes. In my case, the 3rd day was to tell me that it was time for lunch. I have to say is that the worst part was the PHP program. It's like let's see how many highly medicated people they can shove in a room and have staff who doesn't give a crap lead it. And have guy staff members flirt with the patients. I went back to the place I came from to do their program. I had someone actually figure out I really have instead of throwing medication at me.

So I put my grandson here before I read the reviews and also talked with one of my customers that had there son here. This is not a good place for a child to be at. I called them while on the way here to tell them I'm… coming to get him. They said it would be against the Dr orders (Dr Crum) hmmm and that my insurance won't pay for the time my grandson is here I told them then send me a bill I dont care I just want him out then another staff member tells me about the intake that said I told them he was suicidal? Iv never made that statement to anyone red flag to me.i put him here because in was intoxicated at 16. Really dont do this to your child find a alternative place.

This place is the biggest joke there is. On my son 3rd day he tried to hang himself nobody called us nobody told us nothing except for my little boy. Then my son broke his hand and we never got a call.. they stole my… son's clothes and his ring.. not only that they lie about what they put on the paper and what they say to you... They are bullies. The adults was bullying my son for the way he looked my child is a burn survivor and you should not have been treated that way.... I have a lawsuit against them

Dr. Crum. Is not nice. He will put you on room restriction.

they suck.

I just went and picked my daughter up. She was put in because of emergency crisis. She went in Saturday morning at 2am. I heard from her Dr. 1 time the Monday after her arrival. I was told they wanted to put her on… meds. Ok, fine. I live with my own issues I understand the process. I heard nothing after that until Wednesday when I heard from the social worker and was told my daughter could be out Friday. All the while I had called every day to try and get an update from a Dr. or nurse to get no information except from my daughter about how verbally and emotionally abusive the staff was. She reports 2 staff that were actually kind and caring of the children’s needs. My daughter reports of a girl having a panic attack and the staff yelling at her that she needs to quit or leave her room. Every time I talked to a staff only one, Victoria, was kind everyone else was short, rude, and had no idea what was going on. I tried Thursday to get hold of anyone to find out about her discharge Friday. I tried 3 times Thursday and left messages on voicemails that weren’t announced as to who they belonged to. I called 5 times Friday and finally told them I was coming to pick her up regardless. Only to find out her Dr. changed her treatment plan and put her in isolation, one of the things that caused her to be there in the first place, Thursday. When I got to the facility to pick up my daughter i was asked who I was I simply said ———- ‘s father. They went and got her and released her to me without even verifying I was in fact her father. I am going to Health and Welfare Monday and reporting everything she went through and all the garbage I went through.

Wonderful staff, very helpful treatment!

I would give it zero stars but I can't leave a comment if I don't. This place is a joke for juveniles. Honestly there is no mental help for juveniles in Idaho. I tried getting my son in today and I got told he had a bed… ready so I drove two and a half hours to find out after 2 hours of waiting patiently that I have to take him to the hospital for a medical admittance and so we came to the hospital like they said they even told me they will still take him after the admittance but now their saying they won't take him even though they knew the severity of the situation. What a joke cottonwood is. Very not professional and a waste of time for your juvenile. Zero star all the way

Went here at 17, went to jail at 18. This place was worse 🙏

Been here twice, it’s okay. Dont like dr crum

Atmosphere and building is welcoming!

The nurses n tech's were horrible. The only ones that were decent in the willow wing were Olivia, Levi, and Tory!! They were rude when I asked a question. They never gave me messages. They let me sleep thru med time.… Which is weird cuz they know your there to get your meds right.. but what ever. I would never recommend them. N they stole my shoe laces!

I am writing to file an emergency complaint regarding the illegal detention and retaliatory actions taken by Cottonwood Summary of Violations: My mother was a voluntary patient. Today, Feb 27, I arrived at the facility… with a notarized Advance Health Care Directive (naming me as Power of Attorney) to facilitate a medical transfer to Intermountain Hospital, where a bed was already secured. Staff refused to honor the Advance Directive, which explicitly grants me the authority to transfer her care. When I presented the legal paperwork and my mother verbally requested to leave, the facility immediately and punitively placed her on a 72-hour involuntary hold. My mother is regressing at this facility and has engaged in self-harm (scratching herself) due to the adversarial environment. Despite this, the facility is blocking a transfer to a higher level of care at Intermountain Hospital. The "Patient Advocate" phone number posted on the unit wall is non-functional and does not ring, preventing patients from accessing their rights. Request for Immediate Action: I request an immediate investigation into this "administrative hold" and the facility's refusal to honor a valid Advance Directive. My mother is currently being held against her will and against my legal authority as her surrogate. We have a safe, medical transport ready to take her to Intermountain Hospital immediately. Edit: I see the reply that cottonwood has made and I have called this number many times at this point and have no received a response, I would like to be contacted as soon as possible. I have attached photos of the grievance number That does not ring currently posted in unit

Amazing place to be to feel a sense of belonging. I graduated the program after 4 months of weekly groups, PHP & IOP. Amazing staff. They offer zoom for when you don’t want to go in person. Snacks anytime you’d like.… And every session offer different topics to learn to better understand your personal needs. 15/10 would recommend.

Update: I have not received a call back from the supervisor of the nursing department and I called the number provided by Cottonwood Creek in their comment below, again, no answer. I will be proceeding by filing a… complaint with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. My daughter (13) was released yesterday after a 6 day stay for suicidal ideation. Her diagnosis was Major Depressive Disorder. First, I want to say that during her stay the facility’s communication was poor. I felt out of the loop the entire time. I had to request that she have her TSH levels tested (which should have been standard with her initial impatient screening), as we have a family history of hypothyroidism, and was never contacted with the results. I was only given the results after I reached out 3 times. I was never even made aware of how to go about visiting her. More importantly, upon her release yesterday, I was told by the discharge nurse “Make sure your daughter does not stop these medications cold turkey or she will end up back here”. I am aware of how SSRI’s work and his comment made me feel confident that he did as well. However, these meds were never called in to our pharmacy upon her release. I spent today trying to contact someone who could call these prescriptions in for me and was transferred to the supervisor of the nursing department each time. None of my calls were answered and I was redirected to a voicemail. I left 2 voicemails with no response. After my 7th or 8th attempt to contact someone I told the woman on the other end of the line not to transfer me again and requested that someone go find the supervisor, which they did. Ten minutes later I received a call back from the supervisor. At this point I was told that she would call in my daughter’s prescription to the pharmacy and I felt relieved. Unfortunately, when I checked with the pharmacy the supervisor had called in the wrong dose of her medication. Upon admission, my daughter was taking 20mg of Fluoxetine, but her dose was increased to 30mg while she was in their care. The supervisor had called in her original dose of 20mg. I called and left, yet another, voicemail with her tonight and have not received a response thus far. I plan on following up tomorrow. My feelings on my daughter’s stay are that this facility comes across completely unorganized and irresponsible. These are the people in charge of the medications for our loved ones that affect their minds, and quite literally, their lives. The thoughts running through my mind are, “what would the outcome have been if I hadn’t been persistent or hadn’t been paying attention?” “How can I be sure my child was given the correct dosage, or even medication, while she was in the care of Cottonwood Creek?” I trusted Cottonwood Creek with my child’s life and was left disappointed. I do not recommend sending your loved ones to this facility.

We had a good experience with one of our kids who needed help at Cottonwood. The staff that we have had to deal with personally have all been very kind and helpful. There are strict rules for you kids if they do have to… attend but that's all good and for a reason. The one thing I felt that they could do a better job at is disclosing what items you can bring to your kids when they are there. Clearly there are a lot of items that can't be brought in with the struggles that these kids are having. That's fine. But there are things we tried to bring in, that are not listed as banned, that they did not have listed. That would have been good information. It's not a cheap place to need but hopefully it's a place that no one ever needs to go to. We are grateful that the hospital is there and appreciative of the help they gave our kid.

I went in without being screened. No questions, no worry if I was sane or ready to kill someone. Became very upset after being there for 24 hours and never saw a therapist. Oh wait, they dont have any. Never saw a… counselor, oh wait....no counselors either. I went in voluntary, psychiatrist after 24 hrs saw me for 3 min. And determined I should be involuntary. Maybe because i told him place was a joke. Was held for 4 days, never receiving my reg medications. 2nd and last visit with Dr was he asking what meds I took. How can he not look it up? He made them bring me my phone so I can provide him with list of my meds. And still didn't get them, yet they were offering me percocets and other meds while I was there. Sadly during my stay, they let the wrong person in without being screened, and he attempted to strangle someone. Happened right next to me. With only female nurses at the time. Who was going to stop him? He stopped on his own. Luckily he didnt kill other patient. No police was called. Victim asked to press charges, later ended up being so drugged up he couldnt talk, which he wasnt like that before. Dont go here. No one there to help. Compared to St Alphonsus, where you daily see a counselor, psychiatrist and a Dr. You've been warned.

This facility is great. Do not hesitate to reach out to them.