Schick Shadel Hospital

There is a level of disorganization that was embarrassing for me

I just would like to inform people of some things before admitting themselves or a loved one at Schick Shadel Hospital. First of all, the treatment does work but only for those who are truly ready. And to those who have no psychological issues that cause them to drink. If it was just a case of “I partied too hard and I can’t go on but I need help to do it”, then this is the place for you.

A reason I give it only one star is perfectly explained by the review below by Charles R Recently. I left in April after 11 years, but what he says rings completely true. There is a level of disorganization that was embarrassing for me to see on a daily basis. Over the past few years, it went from a well organized patient experience to a mere shadow of it once was.

Once the hospital went from being owned by former patients to it’s current 2nd corporate ownership, the majority of the most talented and experienced nursing, counseling, and administrative staff have left, retired, or been let go. And with them, so went much of the caring spirit that made this a special hospital.

The main cause is the ownership.For some insight, check this out: uhsbehindcloseddoors.org The reason for this disorganization and the sense of not getting the $20,000 worth of quality care is the staffing levels. The nursing, counselors, and dietary staff were woefully understaffed and were working in crisis mode at all times. The reason for this was the never ending drive to increase the bottom line brought on by the culture of it’s parent corporation.

Some of the counselors there are wonderful, but don’t expect to get much. There is not enough time to get to all of the patients. At least that is what I experienced up until my leaving. Some of the nurses are great, but there is such turnover, that the “culture of Schick” has been mostly lost.

As for the food, you are definitely not going to get what you feel is a good value for the $20,000 the treatment costs. Unless you like frozen chicken pot pies that you can get for $1. You find those at at 7-11. Or a “reuben” that consists of one thick slice of unpleasant corned beef. Financial margin takes priority over quality of food.

And that brings me to the main reason I am writing this. Beware of the business office and the financial demands made on you before admission and during your stay. By the time of my leaving, if you had an estimated balance of over a certain threshold, you were expected to pay enough to bring the balance to that level. And the admission staff were continually pressured to try to get all of this estimated balance at admission or be led to a lending company that charges outrageous interest rates.

If you have a balance, the business office will make you sign a financial agreement on your first day of treatment. Monthly payments that are required are in the mid hundreds per month and will be due within the month after discharge. For a patient that just leaves detoxification, is on their first day, is scared and not knowing what is going to happen, this can easily make a patient feel blindsided. And many times since the patient has ruined themselves financially, these monthly payments can be overwhelming.

Too often, the patient can have this hanging over their heads when they should be focused 100% on their treatment. If you happen to be late on a payment, you will be receiving a call from a collector who will have a minimal amount of patience regarding your bill. It can drive a former patient to drink!

I understand that a business needs to make their income goals, but as with other for-profit hospitals, if your insurance is in network with the facility, they have already recouped their costs in almost all cases. Therefore, all of the cash paid is profit on top in those cases. I will not divulge details.

As they are a publicly traded company (UHS), you can see their financial reports for yourself and see their healthy profit margin. Obviously, money losing hospitals would be forced raise costs to meet the corporate profit goals. My past few years there, the almighty dollar was the top priority.

But if you have the financial ability to pay for this treatment (and another in case this does not work), then no cost is too high to halt something that will kill you. If I had a family member struggle with addiction, I wish I could have recommended Schick. But unfortunately, I could not and feel confident they would get what is promised.

I can only give them one star knowing the staff is treated miserably by the management.The final thing I want to mention is that Pat O’Day, the longtime spokesperson of Schick is proof that this treatment can work. He is honest in his enthusiasm for good reason. But unfortunately, this is not the same Schick experience that he went though.

Is Schick Shadel Hospital a legit?

Schick Shadel Hospital is not running a legit business. They are not aggressive towards customer satisfaction and complaint grievance redressal, Hence 12 consumer[s] submitted negative ratings, and only a few left positive feedback.

Where is Schick Shadel Hospital located?

Schick Shadel Hospital is headquarted at N/A. You can contact Schick Shadel Hospital by dialing (206) 966-6273 or visit their website schickshadel.com.

How much monetary loss is incurred by Schick Shadel Hospital’s customers?

According to Schick Shadel Hospital’s customers, a monetary loss of US $800 has been reported. The severity of entire incident reports is high.

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12 Reviews on Schick Shadel Hospital

  1. Where?????

    I am 4 1/2 years sober. I know I could not have done it without Shick Shadel. My biggest concern is getting help for friends and family now that it has closed. Does anyone know of another aversion therapy anywhere and I do mean anywhere?

  2. Life saving

    Absolutely saved my sons life! He is now going on 2 years sober. The and I cant thank Schick enough!

  3. Understaffed,, cleanness' ,I got athletes foot while I was there . I haven't had that in over 20 years????

    it’s a good facility, I was there in 1987.I wish that they could use the same methods as they did then.The treatment still works,but not as well. Here is to all of my warrior friends .????????

  4. The 1990s

    I was here before the treatment got dumbed down in respect to profit margins.
    I needed detox first which was made about as comfortable as they could. Dr JW Smith was there along with Jim S. and Dave W. There was a solid treatment plan with informative group meetings. I appreciated the non 12 step Minnesota model as the vast majority of programs use. The food was so so the program did not try to take anybody off sugar or caffeine. Smoking was allowed in certain areas. The downside of my experience was the taxicab service the hospital called for transportation to Sea-Tac.

  5. Better than all the rest!

    After 3 failed trips to rehab, I found success with Schick Shadel.

  6. lost

    did not work for me…also had to pay 24k out of pocket…blaaaa!! may work for some didn’t work for me!!

  7. Negligent and unprofessional

    I was a patient for 10 days there, for klonopin detox only. There were a few caring nurses that really helped. But often nurses on the night shift would insult patients calling them “druggies” and “crazy.” There were new hires who couldn’t even draw blood. They were neglectful. The director discharged me due to my double insurance having a day lapse before Cobra began. I was hallucinating still and they set me out on the street and said “you’re discharged.” Could be a case of malpractice. Luckily I went on to Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic for excellent treatment & with the help of AA and a spiritual life am 4 years clean & sober. There is help out there, but don’t go to Schick Shadel.

  8. It really was a life&death choice.

    It really was a life&death choice. I came to realize at Thanksgiving 1985 that if I didn’t quit drinking soon, I’d be a vegetable or dead within 3-5 years. So the next few months were a focused scramble to figure out how-when-where I’d get healthy. Decided I wanted to attend my mother’s college graduation sober on Sunday. Once that decision was made, the rest dropped into place fairly easily.

    Toughest part was getting hostile boss to give me two weeks leave from my job. The rest is healthy history. Schick Shadel really did rescue me from alcoholic self-destruction. Aversion works. No BS. No blah-blah. It just works in 10 amazing, life-transforming days, plus a 2-day follow-up 6 weeks later. Heartfelt thanks to everybody there, every year on 5/25 and every day of my life.

  9. To me it is a GOD send, pure mirical!!!

    I have been to several 12 step programs and still attend AA meetings because i love the people but they didn’t work on me. Shick Shadel scientifically entered my mid- brain and made me a non- drinker. The staff is great and very caring. My home life has improved tremendously!

    My wife and i haven’t been so happy together, i receive praise from her all the time for my sobriety and just being the guy she married. As if i did it myself lol. But i’ll take it. Relations with my children are air tight! Loving my grand children has never been so sweet. To me it is a GOD send, pure mirical!!!

  10. Schick Shadel Hospital saved my life.

    Schick Shadel Hospital saved my life. Drinking alcohol since I was 16. Drinking daily from the age of 21. Progressively getting worse for 25 years. My business management degree and professional experience didn’t guard me from the disease that is addiction. I tried numerous treatment programs and facilities that didn’t work for me.

    I was loosing hope. I felt like a failure. The guilt and shame was overwhelming. I disconnected with my family, friends and work. I isolated and self-medicated with alcohol. I was about to lose everything. I had already lost my self worth, self esteem, confidence and sense of reality.

    Now I was about to lose my family, career and eventually my life. Then I found Schick. Unlike the other treatment facilities I had tried, Schick treated me like an adult.

  11. NEVER CALL THEM. It's like they use a call center to scrape up business

    I had gone through a tough time. I heard the ads and called. Then they kept calling and calling back trying to close that sale. They went form nice and helpful on the first call to pushy when they called back.

    If they were as good as advertised, then they should not need to call me to fill their hospital. That is a very bad omen and I refused to go there.

    1. You say it just like it was. Money making detox. They called and called and you know.

  12. Schick Shadel Hospital is Scam

    My son and grandchildren are living with his exmother in-law, who is at this place now. Her counselor just called my son to say that if his mother inlaw fails and falls off the wagon that it is his fault and she should call CPS on him if SHE fails.

    How is it his fault if she fails? WHY would you tell her to try to ruin his and his childens lifes if this woman chooses to drunk again? This is just not right. I am wondering is this something they do on a normal bases? Now we feel like he really needs to get out of that house.

    Thanks SHcick Shadel for ruining a family,she was happy with my son and my grandchildren before she went there.

Reviews: 12
Reported Loss : 800 $
Severity : High
Reported by : Anonymous
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