St. Simons-By-The-Sea

ABOUT SAINT SIMONS BY-THE-SEA

Saint Simons By-The-Sea, located in St. Simons, Ga., is a psychiatric and addiction hospital offering inpatient treatment for adults and adolescents. Saint Simons' treatment options include medical and psychiatric stabilization, a short-term residential program, treatment for co-occurring disorders, and medically managed detoxification. According to a 2017 SAMHSA survey, only 15 treatment facilities (5.1 percent) in Georgia offer detox in a residential setting and 68 (23.3 percent) offer adolescent-specific programming.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

Treatment combines 12-step work and therapy. Residents are also encouraged to focus on learning relapse prevention skills. According to the facility's website, the length of stay depends on the client's needs as determined by the treatment team assigned to support the client.

The adolescent program at the facility is for teens who are severely distressed, such as those with suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, extreme anger, or severe alcohol and/or drug abuse. This program, which has 24-hour nursing care, primarily utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication.

Saint Simons also offers the Return to Mission Wellness Treatment Program, which provides integrated substance use and mental health services for active-duty service members or veterans. According to a 2017 SAMHSA survey, 45 (15.4 percent) treatment facilities in Georgie offer a program specific to active-duty service members.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

According to the facility’s website, Saint Simons employs a certified doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) and three M.D.s. Saint Simons By-The-Sea is one of 59 (20.2 percent) treatment facilities in Georgia that is accredited by the Joint Commission.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

Saint Simons By-The-Sea is located on an island off the coast of Georgia, less than 100 miles from both Savannah, Ga., and Jacksonville, Fla. Photographs on the facility's website show a bright, light-filled building arranged around a central courtyard with a small fountain, a sunroom, and a tennis court. The photos indicated that residents share simple and modern rooms for two.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

The 14 alumni polled by Rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave mixed feedback that skewed negative. Many alumni criticized the staff-to-client ratio, lack of time seeing treatment staff, and poor accommodations and amenities. In a representative review, alum Anita wrote: "Dr's & therapist were in short supply. It was literally an assembly line. I probably had a TOTAL of FOUR HOURS in TWO WEEKS with a dr. There is absolutely no privacy. If you want some quiet time for reflection there is NOWHERE to go."

Conversely, several other alumni expressed gratitude that the facility had helped them overcome their addictions. Alum L.C. wrote in a representative review: “SSBTS helped me understand my disease, allowed me to withdraw in a safe environment, introduced me to the 12 Steps and prepared me to face life sober on outside.”

The two alumni polled on specific metrics gave mostly high ratings. In particular, they both gave four or five stars out of five to the staff's training, cleanliness of the facility, alternative counseling options, and staff support.

Reviews on third-party sites were also mixed, echoing those of alumni surveyed by Rehabs.com. On Google, 26 reviewers contributed to an average 3.6 out of five-star rating.^[1] Of two reviewers on Yelp, one offered a four-star rating and the other a one-star rating.^[2] However, reviewers on the facility's Facebook page, which staff can manage, were more positive with an average 4.3 out of five-star rating based on 42 reviews^[3]

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

Of three loved ones to submit reviews to Rehabs.com, two gave neutral feedback, and the third negative feedback. The negative reviewer, L.C., primarily criticized the facility's poor maintenance. "My daughter was here for 5 days and when she came home she brought bed bugs home with her now we have bed bugs," they wrote. In addition, three loved ones on Google and one on Facebook all left negative reviews.

WHAT STAFF SAY

Though Rehabs.com has not yet received any reviews from staff members as of this date, one former employee on Google gave a one-star review. The reviewer noted that the treatment curriculum was highly inconsistent and the facility is severely understaffed.

FINANCING

The cost of treatment at the facility is not published, however, Saint Simons' website indicates that they accept Medicare and Tricare and is also a preferred provider for most commercial insurance plans. Self-pay is also accepted, and there is a discount for prompt payment.

^[1] GoogleReviews
^[2] https://www.yelp.com/biz/saint-simons-by-the-sea-saint-simons-island-4
^[3] https://www.facebook.com/pg/SaintSimonsBehavioral/reviews/?ref=page_internal