Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Center - Los Angeles, California

Jorge E. C.

Exelente

E H.

This place is absolutely inhumane. It’s impossible to fully express my full experience here, but as a general facility, they are very awful to their patients. 8 years ago I was taken from my home because someone called and reported I was suicidal. With no proof and me begging them to leave so I could do my homework, I was transported to the police station where I say handcuffed to a bench for 4hours before transported to the hospital. I was then more restrained and put to sleep. I then woke up to the chaos of this facility and held against my will for three days. Of those three days it was impossible to get out because every time I woke up, I was soon sedated. I was so messed up every time I woke up from what they were sedating me with and scared, which caught me in a vicious cycle to be in defense mode and sedated again. One afternoon I woke up, from being put to sleep, to an old man with dementia peeing in my room, I was 18 at the time, I’m also a female... To say I was absolutely horrified was an understatement, I’m SEDATED with several other people free roaming the facility, and absolutely nobody keeping an eye on me in the most vulnerable time. I missed all but one meal so I was living on soda, and bread with a slice of baloney. They didn’t even have water!! After several attempts of my family trying to get them to release me because they could tell my mental health was declining quickly being in there, causing them to be very concerned for my mental heath. My sitter ended up flying across the country to get me out of there. Before she entered they spoke with her about how she will not recognize the person she knows me as. As soon as she saw me, and me only saying “hey” with a look of fear in my eyes, it was clear to her nothing was wrong with me except the fact that I was being extremely mistreated. I was out of there within the hour after meeting with the Dr with my sister also in the room. I had the same conversation I had already had with him the day before and he told me they were going to have to keep me at least another 3-4 days. The difference this time around, I had someone that knew me my entire life to back me up that I was in my right state of mind. After 12 shots to the ass, little food, no water and a traumatic experience, I walked out of there with my sister, $14k bill and forced to sign away some of my rights in order to be released (in this situation, I would have signed anything to get out of that place!! Many comments speak about patient rights they are supposed to present to you, and at no point was I told any of my rights other than they couldn’t keep me more than 14 days. I was lucky to have family that cared enough to drop everything to come across the country to get me out. It was clear to me most of the people there didn’t have the same support system and they were left to sit there till they couldn’t keep them any longer. If you have a loved one you are considering sending here, seek help elsewhere because this place, that replies to comments saying they are working to improve, clearly has no intentions of doing so if the reviews over the last 10 years say the same damn thing. Clearly there has been no improvements. I will admit, there were two nurses there that were absolute angels, the others treated you like you were a criminal, not like someone who is having mental health struggles.

Emily W. T.

If I could give this place negative stars, I would. On July 30, 2023, I was transferred from USC Arcadia Hospital's ER to Kaiser's Psych Ward hospital here on College St. I was informed of my patient's rights, but they did not have official documentation that mentioned specifically why my cell phone had to be taken away from me. There were so many problems with this experience. A male nurse opened the doorway to a patient's room while she was changing. The nurses were breaking the Kaiser service standards that were posted on the wall. I saw one yelling at a patient for being in the incorrect bed. After their staff treated me & all of the other patients like subhuman, they billed me close to $2.9k for this involuntary hospitalization. How does this make any sense?! Because of this hospital & Kaiser, I have no trust in the behavioral healthcare system because it's all about profits over people.

Caroline G.

Some of the staff are good, others are condescending. I will never forget hearing a staff member call a patient “crazy”. That’s disgusting. Also, the workshops that were given were subpar, the staff just read off of pamphlets. The only real learning that was done, was when we were taught about different types of medications by a pharmacist. I expected more.

KuyaNaught N.

I haven’t been here for almost five years, which is a good thing for me considering the circumstances I was in during my prior visits. Staff friendliness 5/5. Patient privacy and respect 5/5. Meals are okay just make sure to ask for extra veggies!! This location is my safe haven, and I am truly grateful for all the hard work and dedication that the staff put into getting me back and on my feet!! Thanks Kaiser Chinatown for teaching me the importance of medication and perseverance!! 💯✨✨

Ashleigh R.

AMAZING staff! Everyone is really nice. An my psychiatrist was extremely understanding, and really heard me out! Bathrooms could be better. But the rooms are clean. There’s lots of activities to do, food is okay ( I mean it’s hospital food ) and the other patients were really nice! You’re allowed to use the phone they provide whenever it’s available, they give you essentials you need,
They also have a tv, and check up on you.

C W.

Horrific experience. Staff were indifferent at best and abusive at worst. I was there for 5 days and they screwed up my medication every single day. I am prescribed a strong opioid and spent the majority of the time in withdrawal because they couldn't figure out how to get my meds to me on time.

Watched one staff member get into an altercation with another staff and scream/threaten them in front of all the other patients. One patient I was friendly with was having a breakdown due to a poor reaction to a new medication and their nurse told them to take a walk and come back later if it was still bothering them. Another patient had severe mobility issues and was unable to stand without assistance. I watched this patient literally beg a staff member for help to stand up so they could go to the bathroom. Staff told them they were tired of the patient asking for help and refused to assist and walked away so I had to help them get up which caused me to hurt my back as the patient was obese. Several other similar instances happened with that patient where staff regularly ignored them when they needed help.

Watched a nurse laugh when a patient slapped another patient. At least 30 patients on the unit I was in with one TV that barely worked. Overall, staff was uncaring and often abusive, food was terrible, treatment was severely lacking, and there were hardly any activities for us to do besides share a TV, read, or sleep. Staff spent tons of time playing on their phones or talking while ignoring patient requests for assistance. We were not even allowed to go outside except for a few minutes on some days to do a group. Felt more like an inmate than a patient and left that facility feeling drastically worse than when I came in and have never felt more dehumanized. Kaiser makes billions of dollars a year and can't even afford to have more than 1 working TV on unit I was on. Kaiser is more than happy to take your money but will do anything to avoid actually treating you.

As a side note, I have been to one other psych facility owned by another company and I was treated with respect and felt like I left in a much better state so clearly it is possible to have a positive experience in a psych ward. My experience with Kaiser has made it so I am deeply distrusting of mental health workers and have difficulty being honest when I am struggling for fear of going back to this place. Clearly Kaiser does not care remotely about the quality of their facility as there are several negative reviews going back multiple years and my experience took place just a few months ago and it seems they haven't done anything to improve.

James K.

Didn't want to go, but spent two days in the facility. Decent caring staff, most shifts and food were ok. I think it was unit 3, and it did feel like a prison of sorts. But we did get group time, socializing and activities, with patio time when it was dry out from raining. Got to keep the socks.