I used a Service Dog (shortened to SD) for a long time. In order for the psychiatric or any hospital to accommodate my SD I had to jump through a lot of legal hoops using the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). I'm not going to get into specific service dog law because it is different for every state, however, the fact that my doctors insisted I continue to be with my SD helped get me the accommodations.
This week I was in the hospital (not psychiatric) for the flu. The ER couldn't believe I didn't have any oils with me lol (we were moving into our new house that day). When my oils finally arrived (a friend brought them), they were so relieved. For many reasons, they can't give me medications so they were glad when I could find some relief from my oils. They called all my doctors--OB, internist, psychiatrist--all of them and they all knew I used oils with success. They all encouraged the hospital to continue letting me use oils because I am currently unmedicated (except one stomach prescription) and that was likely the only way I could find relief . So I was pumped with IV fluids and slathering myself with oil :)
I would think that having your doctors--especially your mental health team, encourage you to use your oils and insist the hospital allow it would be a step in the right direction. With SD's, the hospital often doesn't even have a written policy when by law, they should have one. I would assume, your hospital doesn't have a policy on oils but it may have a policy on other natural remedies. Maybe now is the time to approach them about it? I think this would be the board of directors or chairmen people or something. Some hospitals use nutrition, exercise, acupuncture, massage, herbs or vitamins to help their patients. Perhaps help them understand that the oils are yet another tool. My doctors have recommended things not endorsed by the FDA before, why not oils?
Think of reasonable accommodations they could make for your oils. The problem with psychiatric hospitals vs other admissions is the behavior of the other patients and responsibility of the hospital. When I had my SD, they wanted to take his leash and collar bc of what someone might do with them. That is reasonable. We made a short leash out of rubber bands that would break if used for something inappropriate. So a reasonable accommodation for your oils would probably not be to allow you to have your case in your room or locked with your personal items. They would probably keep it at the desk or with the nurse who gives out meds. Perhaps your doctor can write a 'prescription' that says "she may use 1-3 drops of oil every __ hours as needed" or something. I think a diffuser would be hard to accommodate in your own room considering what can be done with a diffuser cord and other parts, but perhaps asking that a diffuser be at the nurse's desk for your ward is more reasonable? Perhaps ask for a diffuser only to run during group but not left in the common area? I also remember that they do not let you use your own toiletries. If you make your own with Doterra, like I do now, perhaps you could get your doctor to write a special note for that. In this case, I think you should try to see it from their point of view and offer suggestions that would help you both. Try to make the suggestions to help them see it would be EASY for them to accommodate you instead of ways it could make their job harder.
For outpatient therapy, wouldn't they just let you use your oils as needed? I think I still had my purse the few times I did, but I can't remember.
Another idea is that most p. hospitals accommodate at least some smoke breaks. I am allergic to smoke but my SD needed to be pottied. Sometimes, they would let someone go out with me after the smokers to let my dog potty. Perhaps they can coordinate your oil usage with dividing up the cigarettes? They are usually kept with the medicines anyway, but you may have access to your oils more often than simply at AM/PM med time.
All of the ideas and accommodations are completely dependent upon the security level of the ward. I think your best bet is to get your personal mental health team on board with you using the oils--then insisting the hospital accommodate you. Perhaps approach your mental health team and the hospital board about other natural solutions they offer and how oils fit into that. I hope I've given you some ideas on how to be reasonably accommodated. There are somethings that a psychiatric hospital will and simply will not do. Perhaps there is a happy medium for you that involves your oils.
Best wishes,
Emily
On Sun, Dec 23, 2012 at 6:23 PM, Mary Kuemmerle <maryoilsemail@gmail.com> wrote:
I posted a little while ago asking about oils in a hospital but I posted a pretty lengthy message so I understand a lot of people may not have wanted to read it. :-) Basically, I have been both inpatient and outpatient at a psychiatric hospital that desperately needs mood oils and On Guard. I wanted to know if anyone here has or know anyone who has had success with getting oils in a hospital. I know Vanderbilt is one but they have people on the doTerra medical board so I'm sure that makes it easier. I'm sure it wouldn't be a simple process. I was going to print out an On Guard study from Pub Med but was wondering who in the hospital I should even talk to. They have pretty healthy stuff in the cafeteria & great dietitians so I think they may be open to it. Thanks!--
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