Request a change to your care plan

Best first step: Ask the assigned nurse, therapist, social worker, case manager, or provider what part of the care plan you want reviewed and why.

• Care plans may include therapy goals, groups, medication planning, safety supports, observation, discharge planning, and follow-up needs.
• Patients can ask for a care plan review if something is not working, feels unclear, or no longer matches their needs.
• Care plan changes are not automatic. The team must consider safety, clinical needs, unit rules, patient preference, and discharge goals.
• Authorized support people can share concerns, but Brookhaven may need patient permission before discussing care details.
• Urgent safety concerns should be brought to unit staff immediately, not sent through a portal request.
• Ask what was reviewed, what changed, what did not change, and when the plan will be reviewed again.

Care plan area	Examples of review requests
Therapy and groups	Ask about group fit, individual support, supervised activities, triggers, participation barriers, or alternate programming.
Medication planning	Ask about side effects, timing, missed doses, new symptoms, medication concerns, or discharge refills.
Observation and safety supports	Ask whether observation level, safety checks, room access, or activity limits can be reviewed.
Daily schedule	Ask about rest needs, sensory needs, meal timing, sleep disruption, day room access, or activity structure.
Discharge planning	Ask about transportation, housing, follow-up appointments, safety planning, support-person involvement, or medication pickup.
Support-person involvement	Ask whether a family meeting, care conference, or authorized support person should be added to planning.

• The patient does not understand the current goals of care.
• Therapy, groups, or supervised programming feel too difficult, too limited, or not useful.
• Medication side effects, timing, or concerns are affecting participation.
• Observation level, safety checks, room restrictions, or activity limits feel unclear.
• Sleep, sensory needs, mobility needs, communication needs, or trauma triggers are affecting care.
• The discharge plan does not seem realistic or safe.
• A support person needs to be involved in planning.
• The patient’s symptoms, risks, preferences, or needs have changed.

Person	How they may be involved
Patient	Can ask staff to explain, review, or adjust the plan of care.
Authorized support person	Can share concerns or ask questions when the patient has allowed involvement.
Guardian, parent, caregiver, or legal representative	May be involved when legal authority or dependent status applies.
Care team member	May initiate changes based on symptoms, progress, safety, therapy participation, or discharge needs.

1. Tell staff what part of the care plan you want reviewed.
2. Explain what is not working, what changed, or what feels unclear.
3. Ask who needs to review the request, such as the nurse, therapist, provider, social worker, or case manager.
4. Ask whether the change can happen now, later that day, or during the next care-team review.
5. Ask what alternatives are available if the requested change is not approved.
6. Ask when the plan will be reviewed again.

• Patient name and date of birth, if using a portal or written request.
• The part of the care plan you want reviewed.
• What is currently happening.
• What you are asking to change.
• Why the change is needed.
• Whether the concern affects safety, therapy participation, sleep, medication, discharge, accessibility, or communication.
• Any recent changes in symptoms, triggers, side effects, or support needs.
• Whether a support person, interpreter, advocate, or legal representative should be involved.

Possible outcome	What it may mean
Plan updated	The care team agrees to adjust goals, schedule, support, medication planning, observation, or discharge steps.
More review needed	A provider, therapist, social worker, case manager, pharmacy, or safety reviewer may need to assess the request.
Alternative offered	The exact request may not be approved, but staff may suggest another support or adjustment.
Plan unchanged	The care team may decide the current plan is still needed for safety, treatment, or discharge readiness.

Ask what can be done instead. Staff may be able to explain the reason, offer an alternative, set a review time, involve another care-team member, or document the concern for the next care-team review.

• Ask whether the patient has authorized the support person.
• Ask what information Brookhaven can and cannot share.
• Ask whether a family meeting or care conference would help.
• Ask whether the support person should help with discharge planning.
• Ask whether legal documentation is needed for a guardian, caregiver, or representative.

Do not wait for a portal reply if the concern affects immediate safety, same-day discharge, medication access, severe side effects, self-harm risk, harm-to-others risk, elopement risk, medical symptoms, or whether the patient can safely stay on the unit.

• If the patient is on the unit, tell the assigned nurse or nearest staff member immediately.
• If the concern involves medication side effects or urgent symptoms, ask for clinical review.
• If the concern affects discharge today, ask the nurse, social worker, or case manager before discharge continues.
• If the patient feels unsafe, tell staff immediately.
• If the patient is not on campus and there is immediate danger, use emergency services.