What happens during a provider review

Best first step: Write down your main question before the review. Ask what the provider is reviewing, what may change, and when the next review will happen.

• A provider review is used to assess symptoms, safety, medications, care goals, therapy participation, and discharge readiness.
• The provider may ask about mood, sleep, appetite, thoughts of harm, medication effects, side effects, triggers, and support needs.
• The review may lead to changes in medication, observation level, therapy goals, activity access, discharge planning, or follow-up needs.
• Some decisions may require input from nurses, therapists, social workers, case managers, pharmacy, or the full care team.
• Patients can ask questions during the review and can request clarification in plain language.
• Urgent safety or medical concerns should be raised immediately with unit staff, not saved for a later review.

Review type	What it may focus on
Daily provider check-in	Current symptoms, safety, sleep, medication response, and care goals.
Medication review	Medication effects, side effects, dose timing, changes, and discharge medication needs.
Safety or observation review	Observation level, safety checks, supervised activity, room access, or risk changes.
Discharge readiness review	Follow-up care, transportation, medication access, safety planning, and home supports.
Care plan review	Whether the current care plan still fits the patient’s needs and goals.

• The patient.
• The assigned provider, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
• Nurses or unit staff who have observed daily safety, symptoms, and participation.
• Therapists or group facilitators who can share therapy participation and care-goal updates.
• Social workers or case managers involved in discharge planning.
• Pharmacy or clinical staff when medication questions need review.
• Authorized support people, guardians, or legal representatives when appropriate and permitted.

Topic	Examples of questions or review areas
Symptoms	Mood, anxiety, sleep, appetite, energy, thoughts, distress, triggers, or changes since admission.
Safety	Thoughts of self-harm, harm to others, elopement risk, unsafe urges, or need for safety supports.
Medications	Side effects, benefits, dose changes, timing, missed doses, allergies, or discharge medications.
Therapy and programming	Group fit, participation, barriers, supervised activities, coping skills, and care-goal progress.
Observation status	Whether safety checks, restrictions, or observation level should continue or be reviewed.
Discharge planning	Follow-up appointments, safety planning, home support, transportation, medication pickup, and next steps.

• Write down your main concern before the review.
• List any medication side effects or changes you have noticed.
• Think about whether sleep, appetite, mood, anxiety, or safety has changed.
• Write down therapy or group concerns, including triggers or barriers.
• Ask about discharge questions before the discharge day, when possible.
• Ask whether you need a support person, interpreter, advocate, or accessibility support.

• What are the current goals of my care plan?
• What has changed since my last review?
• What symptoms or safety concerns are you watching most closely?
• Are my medications changing? If yes, why?
• What side effects should I tell staff about right away?
• Can my observation level or safety checks be reviewed?
• What therapy or group goals should I focus on?
• What needs to happen before discharge is considered?
• When will the care team review the plan again?
• Who should I talk to if I disagree or still have questions?

Possible next step	What it may mean
Care plan updated	Medication, therapy goals, observation, schedule, safety supports, or discharge planning may change.
Current plan continued	The team may decide the current plan is still needed and will review again later.
Additional review requested	The provider may ask for input from nursing, therapy, social work, pharmacy, or another reviewer.
Discharge planning updated	The team may adjust follow-up appointments, safety planning, transportation, medication pickup, or support-person involvement.

• Ask whether the patient has authorized the support person.
• Ask what information Brookhaven can share.
• Ask whether the support person should attend a family meeting or care conference instead.
• Ask whether legal documentation is needed for a guardian, caregiver, or representative.
• Ask who will follow up with the support person after the review, if appropriate.

Ask what is pending. You can ask what information the team still needs, who is reviewing the next step, and when the question will be revisited.

Do not wait for the next provider review or portal reply if the concern affects immediate safety, severe medication side effects, self-harm risk, harm-to-others risk, elopement risk, medical symptoms, same-day discharge, 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, ask for clinical review.
• If discharge is happening today, ask to speak with the nurse, provider, social worker, or case manager before leaving.
• If the patient feels unsafe, tell staff immediately.
• If the patient is not on campus and there is immediate danger, use emergency services.