The Asian Psychiatry Program at Gracie Square Hospital is designed to meet the specific needs of the Asian psychiatric patient in an inpatient setting. The Program provides culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate mental health services to the Chinese, Korean and Japanese communities. Recognizing that cultural factors influence the way an individual views the causes and treatment of mental illness, the Program permits patients and their families to work within their own cultural framework to maximize successful treatment outcomes and prevent relapse. By providing staff who can communicate in a patient's own language, the Program truly makes patients and their families active members of the treatment team.
The Multidisiplinary Treatment Team
The Asian Program is directed by Board Certified bilingual/bicultural psychiatrists. With the help of a culturally diverse clinical and support staff who speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Chinese ethnic dialects, Korean, Japanese and other Asian languages, patients and their families can understand treatment options and compliance strategies, and truly be active participants in treatment planning. When patients are ready for discharge, bilingual social workers familiar with all available mental health resources within the Asian communities work with patients and their families to organize realistic, effective and culturally appropriate aftercare plans.
Culturally Appropriate Environment
The unit is designed to provide patients with the comforts of their own culture; it is decorated with Asian art, patients are served Chinese food and Chinese tea. Educational materials and newspapers are provided in English and Asian languages.
Services provided:
- Psychiatric assessment and treatment by bilingual psychiatrists
- Comprehensive medical and neurological examination, laboratory and other medical tests as indicated
- Individualized treatment plan
- Multidisiplinary treatment of psychiatric symptoms, including detoxification from addictive substances
- Coordination of concurrent medical and psychiatric treatment
- Nutritional evaluation and dietary education
- All special diets
- Group and individual therapy and activities geared toward relapse prevention and medication compliance
- Comprehensive discharge planning, by bilingual staff, including referral to culturally and linguistically appropriate outpatient providers
- 24-hour, seven-day-a-week on-site coverage by an internist and a psychiatrist
Patients are accepted from a variety of sources, including referrals directly from the community, managed care providers, Health Maintenance Organizations, medical hospitals, nursing homes/extended care facilities, community centers, and private doctors.
Treatment Modalities/Interventions
Interventions utilized may include psychopharmacology, crisis intervention, group therapy, and stabilization of acute medical symptoms.
Discharge Planning
When patients are ready for discharge, bilingual social workers familiar with all available mental health resources within the Asian communities work with patients and their families to organize realistic, effective and appropriate aftercare plans. Through our direct affiliations with Asian mental health and medical outpatient providers, community centers, and extended care facilities, we are able to effect the most appropriate and timely referrals.
Admissions
For information regarding insurance and admission to the Asian program, please contact the Asian Program at:
- Phone: (212) 434-5577
- Fax: (212) 434-5578
Patients may be admitted to the inpatient Asian Program 24 hours a day. 
