FAQs
Come and Explore
Our Campus
A mental health environment impacts users at a number of levels, including the architectural and interior design levels. The Pavilion, a 66-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital, combines the architectural efforts of Guernsey Tingle Architects and Landmark Design Group to mesh historical colonial architecture with the necessary attributes of a modern behavioral healthcare facility. The results give users their first introduction to The Pavilion and set the initial impression and expectations. Visual and physical access to nature is incorporated into the design, allowing people to experience our grounds even when they are in the building. The 33,500-square-foot facility features furniture, flooring, wall color, textures, trim, and artwork that create a non-institutional feel. These warm settings enhance the work that is essential in an acute inpatient psychiatric facility and is rooted in available evidence and best practices.
Campus Design
The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is designed for adults and adolescents (12-17) with primary psychiatric disorders who require intensive support and structure but not 24-hour inpatient care.
Patient engagement is a critical component of patient safety. Patients who feel connected to staff members are more likely to respond to or seek out those individuals in moments of distress, which can prevent or deescalate personal crises. For this reason, the layout of The Pavilion follows the hub-and-spoke concept, with each unit extending from a centralized nurses’ station. Additionally, offices for counselors and social workers are located on each unit so that patients have access to their caregivers at all times. This reflects the patient-centered culture essential to a recovery-oriented system.
All inpatient rooms at The Pavilion are double occupancy but can easily be converted to single rooms should the need arise for one-on-one care. Each room features the following:
- An exterior window with integral blinds and laminated glass on the interior face
- A bathroom door with a pressure-sensitive alarm at the lintel, a continuous hinge, and an anti-ligature lever with a magnetic latch
- Non-breakable artwork that does not compromise patient safety
- Secure trim, headboard, and soothing colors that contribute to the homey atmosphere of the room
- Built-in desk and shelving unit to store patient clothing
- Woodgrain-patterned vinyl flooring and rubber baseboards to enhance the residential feel
Patient activity areas consist of living rooms/dayrooms, dining rooms, therapy rooms, group and family meeting spaces, a quiet room for retreating, and secure outdoor spaces. The design priority in these areas was the creation of an inviting, non-institutional environment free from features that may facilitate assaults or self-harm. These areas are supervised by staff and consequently present less of a safety/security threat than areas where a patient may be left unsupervised for a period of time.
Criteria for maintaining patient safety in these areas include:
- Lighting and other ceiling items are recessed and surface-mounted with vandal-resistant fixtures.
- Common areas have no sharp wall, furniture, or fixture edges on which patients could injure themselves.
- All wall items are flush mounted and securely fastened with security screws.
- Adequate secure storage rooms are available on each Pavilion unit to prevent carts and other equipment from being stored in the corridor or open alcoves off the corridor.
- Equipment used by patients while supervised—such as computer equipment—is located in rooms that can be locked when not in use.
The outdoor space at The Pavilion at Williamsburg Place is a serene and rejuvenating oasis designed to complement our comprehensive approach to healing and recovery. Nestled amidst the picturesque landscape of Williamsburg, Virginia, our outdoor area offers a tranquil retreat where individuals can find solace, reflect, and connect with nature.
Surrounded by lush greenery and soothing natural elements, our outdoor space provides a peaceful environment conducive to relaxation and introspection. Whether you’re participating in outdoor therapy sessions, engaging in mindfulness practices, or simply enjoying moments of quiet contemplation, our outdoor area offers the perfect setting to unwind and recharge.
With ample seating areas, walking paths, and scenic views, The Pavilion at Williamsburg Place’s outdoor space invites individuals to embrace the beauty of the outdoors while embarking on their journey towards wellness. Whether you’re basking in the warmth of the sun, listening to the gentle rustle of leaves, or admiring the beauty of native flora, our outdoor space offers a sanctuary where individuals can find comfort, inspiration, and renewal.
At The Pavilion at Williamsburg Place, we understand the importance of holistic healing, and our outdoor space serves as an extension of our commitment to nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. Whether you’re seeking moments of tranquility or opportunities for therapeutic exploration, our outdoor area invites you to experience the healing power of nature firsthand.
Dining at The Pavilion is not just about meals. It is an integral part of our treatment programs. Led by Director of Dietary Services Valerie Huckstep, our staff provides balanced nutrition at every meal and dietary coaching to help patients continue healthy eating habits after they leave us.
Each meal is carefully prepared to bolster both the physical and mental health of our patients. Foods that help stabilize mood are always on the menu, and comfort food helps our clients feel at home. Patients have multiple choices of entrées for every meal, and the menu changes every month. Valorie is also very conscious of the importance of social interaction at meals, and she strives to show her love and respect for the patients in all aspects of her job.
As patients prepare to leave our facility, Valorie works to help them maintain healthy eating habits. In addition to showing them how to plan meals and choose nutritional foods—and avoid unhealthy choices like processed food—she also helps them develop grocery shopping habits that will make it easier for them stick to their plan.
Geriatric Dietary Services Patients in our geriatric program often have special issues around meals. Some may be admitted after a period of not eating and will need to work with dietary services to find ways to remind them to eat. Physical problems can also create difficulties. For example, patients with Parkinson’s may have trouble holding utensils due to the tremors in their hands. Others may have difficulty with chewing or swallowing. Our knowledgeable dietary services staff is trained in caring for people with these issues and can help restore health and a measure of independence to geriatric patients.
Private
Patient Back Entrance
We respect our patients’ privacy and their dignity.
Most hospitals bring patients in through a front lobby while they are handcuffed. This makes it possible for them to be seen by anyone passing the facility. It also means that the first time they come into contact with other patients, they are in a potentially embarrassing and undignified position.
At our facility, our private back entrance allows patients to be admitted out of public view. After the admission process—which takes place in a private room—they are released from restraints before entering the common areas of the treatment center. This allows them to integrate into the patient population without the indignity of being seen in restraints.
The Pavilion also works with each patient’s family to prepare them for the TDO hearing. Family members are able to attend the hearing and be a part of the team that presents on behalf of the patient.
Around the clock
Safety & Precautions
Most of the patients in our Acute Care Program are admitted because they have been determined to be a threat to themselves or others. Safety is therefore a primary concern. Our facility is designed to prevent patients from harming themselves. Patient rooms and common areas contain no ligature points, furniture is bolted to the floor, and our doors are designed so that patients cannot lock themselves into any of the rooms. Our staff is trained in safety protocols, and each patient is checked on at least once every fifteen minutes around the clock. Patients in the acute care unit have no interaction with patients in other units. We work to minimize any opportunities for the patient to harm themselves or others.
Beautiful, Open-Air
Courtyard
Research has shown that access to nature during treatment for mental illness promotes positive emotional states and diminishes negative feelings. Both the serene setting and the chance for physical interaction with nature can help patients become more calm and focused.
Our open-air courtyard allows patients the chance to spend time outside in a secure environment. The courtyard is designed to be visible by the staff at all times and includes landscape features that do not allow for assaultive behavior or self-harm. Although this courtyard is used by patients in other programs, the populations of different programs are never allowed access to the space at the same time. Due to safety issues, patients in acute care do not mix and mingle with patients from other programs.
Special Campus Features
Safety
Most of the patients in our Acute Care Program are admitted because they have been determined to be a threat to themselves or others. Safety is therefore a primary concern. Our facility is designed to prevent patients from harming themselves. Patient rooms and common areas contain no ligature points, furniture is bolted to the floor, and our doors are designed so that patients cannot lock themselves into any of the rooms. Our staff is trained in safety protocols, and each patient is checked on at least once every fifteen minutes around the clock. Patients in the acute care unit have no interaction with patients in other units. We work to minimize any opportunities for the patient to harm themselves or others.
Courtyard
Research has shown that access to nature during treatment for mental illness promotes positive emotional states and diminishes negative feelings. Both the serene setting and the chance for physical interaction with nature can help patients become more calm and focused. Our open-air courtyard allows patients the chance to spend time outside in a secure environment. The courtyard is designed to be visible by the staff at all times and includes landscape features that do not allow for assaultive behavior or self-harm. Although this courtyard is used by patients in other programs, the populations of different programs are never allowed access to the space at the same time. Due to safety issues, patients in acute care do not mix and mingle with patients from other programs.
Patient Entrance
We respect our patients’ privacy and their dignity. Most hospitals bring patients in through a front lobby while they are handcuffed. This makes it possible for them to be seen by anyone passing the facility. It also means that the first time they come into contact with other patients, they are in a potentially embarrassing and undignified position. At our facility, our private back entrance allows patients to be admitted out of public view. After the admission process—which takes place in a private room—they are released from restraints before entering the common areas of the treatment center. This allows them to integrate into the patient population without the indignity of being seen in restraints. The Pavilion also works with each patient’s family to prepare them for the TDO hearing. Family members are able to attend the hearing and be a part of the team that presents on behalf of the patient.