Research Psychiatric Center

I was here in 2020 twice. Research has a good environment, good food, good staffing and good doctors. Their was a lot of chaotic behaviors among the other clients, and the way staff handled it was VERY professional. I enjoyed my two stays here. Staff met your needs, and even went above and beyond for the clients. Staff brought in treats for the clients even when we didn’t deserve it. This is the best mental hospital in the KCMO area. I definitely recommend this to anyone and anybody suffering from mental health issues.

My daughter got admitted in here. She called me and her husband and wanted us to bring her some cloths and see her. I don't know if she didn't know or she forgot to give us a 4 digit code. which we didn't know we had to have I go to the facility and ask to see my daughter. She asks whats the 4 digit code. I said 4 digit code? She said yes. I said how do I get it.?She said only the patient can give it out that she should have given it to me when she called. . She suggested that I call back on the number she called me from which is what all patients use I rang and rang and rang and rang.. so I got back to the lady and tell her I can't get an answer. I asked so scan I just leave her clothes? She said no because of the hippa law. . I have tried that number over and over and over and over and no answer at many different times. So now I have no way to get ahold of her to get the code. I'm hoping she doesn't think I didn't want to see her or bring her cloths. So if you have a loved one go into here. Make sure when they call they give you a 4 DIGIT CODE. She's been in there now going on 48 hours. And I still hear nothing.

Next to KU, this psych ward is the worst. The most scary and dangerous patients are placed together in an impossibly small facility. During my first time here years ago when I had a nervous breakdown due to life stress, I actually had a psychiatrist make fun of me and a nurse read my diagnosis and symptoms out loud. A woman completely lost it and got violent after being told she couldn’t have cigarettes, and barricaded herself inside of a room. On my second stay years later when I was severely depressed, another patient climbed over the nurse’s station and screamed like a wild animal. While the first time I technically got better, the meds they had me on obviously didn’t cure me as I would have to continue mental health treatment in the future. For some reason many people think that this facility is the “go to” treatment for mental health in KC but it isn’t. Sadly the mostly incompetent staff and sub-par facilities aren’t all to blame, as the type of clientele that sometimes needs help in Kansas City are often uneducated, ignorant and on serious drugs. They get thrown in here with everyone else instead of being placed in long-term facilities like halfway houses, rehabs, group homes, etc. So don’t expect to get help while you are here.

If I could give this place zero Stars I definitely would this is the most horribly ran facility I have ever seen in my life not in my total life but yeah this place absolutely is hands down the worst if anything I think they would add to your mental health not help it! I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE FOR ANYBODY YOU LOVE OR CARE ABOUT!!!!!!!!!

Horrible experience, definitely seems this place is made to break you down to no more than livestock. No windows in some wings, staff talks down to everyone. Food from cafeteria is 10/10 though

Love the lack of information on their website. I just called two separate phone numbers to get more information on the unit I stayed in. There is nothing. If you wind up in the transitions unit good luck. Those few days were incredibly traumatizing. For those who are unaware- the transitions unit is above vine. There is no description of the transitions unit anywhere on the website. I cried for days looking out a fog covered mirror. I almost got beat up. The nurses are bad - the doctors are worse. If you care about someone or yourself- do not go here.

#justTransThings I'm transgender. During admission the white cisgender male doing intake left the room to have a discussion with coworkers in the other room about if gender matters. He couldn't understand why anyone would choose to take on this label, and further expressed his confusion about non-binary genders, saying it was the same thing as androgyny. When he asked me, I couldn't explain it to his satisfaction. I need to dilate every few days. A nurse with the ally pin told me I couldn't have my dilators because she was adamant they were vibrators. I asked her to show me one vibrating so I would believe her, but she simply repeated the assertion they were vibrators. After they received my insurance information, the nurses wanted to move me to a different room but needed my consent. They said it was in the same female wing, and I questioned the purpose of this until it was revealed the new room would actually be in the male wing. I'm legally female. During group I was asked if my now legal name was my "real" name. Another patient picked up on the microaggression and demanded an apology on my behalf. They were taken away and injected with a sedative. #justTransThings-end At no point did I say I was planning to kill myself. This was an involuntary stay. This could be my final review, since involuntary stays are associated with an extreme increased risk of actual suicide. Don't do it! The website says that individual therapy is provided, and every professional I spoke to prior to admission confirmed that it was guaranteed daily. After admission I was told it was not guaranteed. I never received individual therapy. I tried to discuss suicidal thoughts in group, but I was shushed by the group leader and told not to say things that might trigger other patients. Group therapy consists of activities such as shooting baskets, drawing, listening to music, and playing UNO. I can do that at home. There are sometimes psychoeducation classes in which the provider passes out an information sheet and we read what's on it. Save yourself $6000 and just google "therapy techniques worksheets". We did get led through an exercise by a practitioner who confessed a lack of knowledge about polyvagal theory, instructing us to use methods suited for hyperarousal after all of us stated we were in hypoarousal. According to polyvagal theory, doing this will maintain the depressed state. I received an intramuscular shot estrogen into my fatty tissue, which is not where that goes. I had nausea for the next two days as a result, which has happened before and is why I told them that that's not where that goes. I wish that we had the ability to vote with our wallets so that places like this no longer exist. Instead we have to pay for abuse whether we want it or not.

Overall I did not have a really bad experience here. I was in a horrible episode in November 2012 and the first time I ever went to a hospital was this place. I had lived in Kansas City for 8 years. I don't remember the name of the doctor I had but I wasn't sleeping for a couple of weeks and with some meds after 3 days there I felt better and slept. It happened to also be my birthday nov. 13th. The staff were helpful but like I have experienced in other hospitals everyone is busy. It seems like people can only talk to you for a few minutes and this is a horrible thing to experience. When you are suffering you need connection. I went back to this hospital a month after the first time and the second time there was way worse than the first. I look back and know it was all because I had gotten off meds and the 8 month time of things being bad..I don't think any hospital would be able to help me it was that bad. Wanted to leave this review to share my story. I also did outpatient program there December 2012 and I wish I could go back and thank all the people I met in that program. The outpatient was much better than being in the hospital. Thank you!

My 16 child was in this facility for 5 days and they treated her very well and helped her get back on track. Checking your child into any hospital is difficult because you are worried about how they will be treated. My child reported to me that the staff was nice and treated her well. I visited every night and always saw positive interactions between staff and patients. The front desk and security staff that check in parents for visits are also great to work with. I would recommend this facility to any parents that find their adolescent needs metal health treatment.

My son never wanted to talk & being her helped him see that talking helps. Staff was always available as they could be for me to talk to them. I hope parents know that this center is the beginning of treatment for their children. Also that their kids are not broken so don’t expect them to come home “fixed”. Visit your babies even if they’re there for 72 hours. I appreciate the resources and fresh perspective given to my son.