Lancaster Hospital Mental Health Hospital Guide

Mental Health Hospital Guide · Lancaster PA · Crisis & Patient Info

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital guide for address, phone, assessments, admissions, services, visitors, records, insurance, parking, and crisis help

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital is located at 333 Harrisburg Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603. The main hospital number is 717-740-4100, and the hospital’s published assessment line is 717-740-4160.

The hospital provides mental-health treatment for adults and adolescents who may need inpatient crisis stabilization, 24-hour psychiatric care, PHP, IOP, or a structured step-down level of care. Use the crisis instructions below if someone may be in immediate danger.

333 Harrisburg Ave Lancaster, PA 17603 Main: 717-740-4100 Assessments: 717-740-4160 24-hour care

Call or Text 988 Call Hospital Call Assessment Line Map & Parking

If there is immediate danger: Call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call/text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In Lancaster County, Penn Medicine also points people to Lancaster County Crisis Intervention at 717-394-2631 for behavioral-health crisis support.

Hospital address 333 Harrisburg Ave

Lancaster, PA 17603.

Main phone 717-740-4100

Use for hospital routing, general questions, and department transfer.

Assessment line 717-740-4160

Published hospital materials describe confidential, no-cost assessments as available 24/7.

Hospital type Psychiatric hospital

Penn Medicine describes it as the only freestanding psychiatric hospital in Lancaster County.

Patient groups Adults & adolescents

Programs include adult, adolescent, psych/med, intensive adult, women’s, PHP, and IOP resources.

Parking Free on-site

Penn Medicine’s directions page says there is ample free parking on the premises.

About Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital

A practical patient and family guide for mental-health hospital care in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital is a behavioral-health facility in Lancaster, PA, created through a partnership between Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and Universal Health Services. Penn Medicine identifies the facility as the only freestanding psychiatric hospital in Lancaster County.

The hospital is designed for people who need a structured, therapeutic environment for severe depression, anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia, crisis stabilization, acute psychiatric symptoms, co-occurring medical needs, adolescent mental-health needs, and step-down outpatient support after or instead of inpatient care when clinically appropriate.

Important distinction: A psychiatric hospital assessment does not replace emergency services. If someone has an immediate risk of suicide, violence, overdose, severe intoxication, serious medical symptoms, or cannot stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Mental-health crisis routing: 911, 988, county crisis, ER, or hospital assessment?

Use the safest route first. A phone assessment is not the same as emergency rescue.

Situation	Best first step	Why
Immediate risk of suicide, self-harm, violence, overdose, weapon access, severe confusion, or medical danger	Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department	Emergency teams can respond immediately and address both medical and psychiatric safety.
Suicidal thoughts, emotional crisis, severe distress, or need to talk now	Call or text 988	988 connects to crisis support. Use 911 if there is immediate physical danger.
Lancaster County behavioral-health crisis support	Call 717-394-2631	Penn Medicine lists Lancaster County Crisis Intervention as a local crisis resource.
Possible inpatient or outpatient behavioral-health treatment, but no immediate emergency rescue needed	Call Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital assessment line at 717-740-4160	The hospital’s published materials describe confidential, no-cost assessments available 24/7.
Medication side effects, mild worsening symptoms, or follow-up planning	Call your current prescriber, therapist, primary-care office, or treatment team	They know the patient’s history and can help route to outpatient, higher-level, or emergency care.
Need detox or substance-use stabilization	Call a crisis line, ER, treatment provider, or assessment team for routing	Penn Medicine notes that people needing detox and stabilization may be referred to area inpatient facilities.

Do not wait for an online answer: If a person may not be safe, is missing, has taken pills, is threatening harm, or has a weapon, call emergency services immediately.

Contact directory for Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital

Use the correct number based on whether the situation is a crisis, an assessment, records, billing, visiting, or directions question.

Need	Phone / route	Use it for
Life-threatening emergency	911	Immediate danger, self-harm risk, overdose, violence risk, severe medical symptoms, or rescue response.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline	988	Immediate emotional crisis support by call or text.
Lancaster County Crisis Intervention	717-394-2631	Local behavioral-health crisis support in Lancaster County.
Hospital main number	717-740-4100	Hospital operator, general routing, admissions questions, and department transfer.
Assessment / intake line	717-740-4160	Confidential assessment, level-of-care questions, PHP/IOP inquiry, or admission screening.
Medical records release	717-740-4172	Release-of-information form guidance, records request status, or authorization questions.
Medical records fax	717-740-4063	Use only when the facility or form instructs you to fax an authorized record request.
Directions / map	Directions and parking	Parking, location, transportation links, and travel planning.
Billing questions	Use the number on your statement first	Statements can vary by hospital, professional provider, insurer, and date of service.

Calling tip: For treatment questions, have the patient’s full legal name, date of birth, current location, symptoms, safety concerns, current medications, insurance card, and guardian/legal-representative information ready.

Admissions, referrals, and no-cost assessments

The hospital’s assessment process helps determine whether inpatient care, PHP, IOP, outpatient referral, emergency care, or another level of treatment is appropriate.

Start with safety. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department before calling an assessment line.

Call the assessment line. For non-emergency treatment screening, call 717-740-4160. Published hospital materials describe confidential, no-cost assessments as available 24/7.

Share current symptoms and risks. Be clear about suicidal thoughts, self-harm, hallucinations, paranoia, mania, inability to sleep, aggression, substance use, medical problems, pregnancy, medications, and recent hospitalization.

Ask which level of care fits. The assessment team may discuss inpatient care, intensive adult care, psych/medical support, adolescent care, PHP, IOP, outpatient referral, or emergency evaluation.

Check insurance and authorization early. Ask whether the hospital can verify benefits, whether prior authorization is needed, and whether any out-of-pocket estimate is available.

Prepare for arrival if directed. Bring identification, insurance card, medication list, allergy list, legal guardian papers if applicable, and emergency contact information.

Voluntary vs involuntary care: Mental-health admission rules can depend on safety risk, legal status, age, guardianship, medical stability, and Pennsylvania law. Ask the assessment team or emergency department what applies to the specific situation.

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital programs and services

The hospital materials describe multiple structured programs for different age groups and levels of psychiatric need.

Adult inpatient care

For adults needing 24-hour care, stabilization, assessment, medication support, treatment planning, therapy groups, safety monitoring, and discharge planning.

Intensive Adult Suite

Hospital materials describe this suite for adults 18 and over with major psychiatric disorders or decreased capacity for self-control, with higher support and structure.

Psych/Med Adult Suite

Published overview materials describe this program for adults with major psychiatric disorders and concurrent medical conditions requiring additional specialization.

Adult Women’s Suite

The hospital describes a women’s-only suite for women experiencing acute mental-health crises in a supportive and therapeutic setting.

Adolescent Suite

Hospital materials describe a dedicated, structured environment for teens dealing with mental-health symptoms, including integrated clinical therapies and academic instruction.

Partial Hospitalization Program

PHP is a structured outpatient level for adults with acute mental-health issues or worsening chronic symptoms who need more support than routine outpatient care.

Intensive Outpatient Program

IOP offers structured evening treatment for adults experiencing emotional, psychological, or behavioral challenges while maintaining daily routines.

Discharge and aftercare planning

Hospitalization and step-down care should include safety planning, medication planning, outpatient appointments, family communication when authorized, and follow-up resources.

What inpatient psychiatric care may include

Exact care plans vary by diagnosis, safety risk, age, unit, medical needs, and treatment goals.

Care component	What it may involve	Patient or family note
Assessment	Biopsychosocial, nursing, psychiatric, medical, safety, medication, and discharge-needs review.	Provide honest information about symptoms, substances, trauma, medications, allergies, and prior treatment.
Safety monitoring	Observation, routine checks, unit safety rules, restricted items, and structured daily schedule.	Some personal items may be stored or restricted for safety.
Psychiatry	Medication review, diagnosis, treatment plan, symptom monitoring, side-effect discussion, and discharge medication plan.	Ask what medication changes are being made and what follow-up is needed after discharge.
Therapy groups	Evidence-based group therapy, coping skills, mindfulness, recovery planning, communication, emotional regulation, and psychoeducation.	Participation is usually part of treatment unless the team says otherwise.
Family communication	Updates, family sessions, safety planning, and aftercare planning when authorized and clinically appropriate.	Privacy rules may limit what staff can share without patient or guardian authorization.
Discharge planning	Aftercare appointments, medication plan, crisis plan, PHP/IOP referral, outpatient therapy, psychiatry, community support, or return-to-school/work guidance.	Ask for written discharge instructions and emergency contacts before leaving.

Family question to ask: “What is the safety plan after discharge, what appointments are already scheduled, what medication changes were made, and who should we call if symptoms return?”

PHP and IOP: step-down and structured outpatient care

Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care can help when someone needs more structure than weekly therapy but may not require 24-hour inpatient care.

Program	Typical use	Questions to ask
Partial Hospitalization Program	Structured daytime outpatient care for adults with acute mental-health needs or worsening chronic symptoms who need a higher level of support.	What days and hours are required? Is transportation needed? Is medication management included? Does insurance require authorization?
Intensive Outpatient Program	Structured treatment while maintaining work, school, or family routines. Hospital materials describe evening IOP for adults.	How many evenings per week? How long is the program? What conditions does it treat? Can it follow inpatient discharge?
Step-down from inpatient	Transition support after hospitalization when a patient still needs structure and monitoring.	Can PHP or IOP start immediately after discharge? Who schedules intake? What if symptoms worsen?
Alternative to inpatient	May be considered when symptoms are serious but the patient can stay safe outside a 24-hour setting.	What safety criteria must be met? What emergency plan is required? Who should be contacted after hours?

Guidance for families, guardians, and support people

Support people can be essential, but behavioral-health privacy rules and patient rights matter.

Ask what can be shared

Staff may be limited in what they can disclose without patient consent, guardian authority, or legal authorization.

Offer useful history

Families can share symptom history, safety concerns, recent stressors, medication lists, substance-use concerns, and prior treatment even when staff cannot share details back.

Participate in discharge planning

When allowed, ask about follow-up appointments, transportation, medication pickup, crisis plan, home safety, school/work notes, and warning signs.

Plan for aftercare

Inpatient stabilization is usually one part of recovery. Outpatient therapy, psychiatry, PHP, IOP, peer support, and primary care may all be part of follow-up.

Adolescent care note: Hospital adolescent materials identify Social Service Therapists as a main point of contact for families and describe periodic family sessions by phone during the stay.

Visitors, phone contact, and patient privacy

Behavioral-health units often have stricter visitor, phone, and belongings rules than general medical floors.

Visitor topic	What to know	Best action
Visitor approval	Visitors may need to be approved, scheduled, limited by unit, or restricted by treatment plan.	Call the hospital before visiting and ask for current unit-specific visitor rules.
Patient privacy	Staff may not confirm a patient is present or share treatment details without proper authorization.	Ask the patient to add authorized contacts when possible.
Belongings and searches	Behavioral-health facilities commonly restrict bags, electronics, cords, sharps, lighters, medications, and other safety-risk items.	Ask what visitors may bring and what must stay in the car or be checked.
Food and outside items	Outside food, drinks, gifts, and personal items may be limited for safety or treatment reasons.	Call before bringing anything to the unit.
Children visiting	Age limits and rules can differ for adult, adolescent, and intensive units.	Ask the unit before bringing minors.
Phone calls	Phone availability may depend on unit schedule, treatment time, safety status, and privacy rules.	Ask staff for the best call window and whether the patient can receive messages.

Visitor rule: Do not bring medications, weapons, sharp objects, alcohol, cannabis, illicit substances, vapes, cords, valuables, or electronics unless staff specifically approve them.

What to bring for assessment or admission

Bring only what is necessary, and expect safety screening for belongings.

Bring	Why it helps	Safety note
Photo ID and insurance card	Registration, identity check, insurance verification, and authorization.	Have guardian ID and custody/legal papers for minors when applicable.
Medication list	Helps the team review current medications, doses, side effects, and missed doses.	Do not bring medications onto a unit without staff direction.
Allergy list and medical conditions	Supports safe treatment planning and medical review.	Include serious reactions and recent hospitalizations.
Emergency contacts	Helps with authorized communication, transportation, and discharge planning.	Privacy rules may require patient consent for sharing details.
Comfortable clothing	Patients may need simple clothing for a structured treatment environment.	Avoid drawstrings, belts, cords, sharp accessories, and valuables.
Current outpatient provider information	Therapist, psychiatrist, primary-care doctor, case manager, school, or program contacts may support aftercare planning.	Staff may need signed release forms to communicate with outside providers.

Before arrival: Call and ask, “What should the patient bring, what is not allowed, can medications come in original bottles, and what belongings will be stored?”

Medical records and release-of-information requests

Mental-health and substance-use records have stricter privacy rules than many ordinary healthcare records.

Records office phone

Published Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital release forms list 717-740-4172 for release-of-information questions.

Records fax

The same form lists fax 717-740-4063 for authorized release/obtain requests.

Common documents

Discharge summary, psychiatric evaluation, aftercare visit summary, clinical intake assessment, medication information, labs, treatment plan, progress notes, and transition-of-care packet.

Authorization

Requests generally need the patient’s written authorization, or parent/guardian/legal representative authorization when permitted.

Special privacy

Alcohol and drug abuse treatment records may have additional federal confidentiality protections under 42 CFR Part 2.

Records privacy warning: Do not email, post, or text psychiatric records, medication lists, diagnoses, crisis plans, or discharge summaries publicly. Use secure release channels and authorized recipients only.

Insurance, billing, authorizations, and payment questions

Behavioral-health hospital bills can involve facility charges, professional charges, insurance authorization, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and separate provider billing.

Use your statement first

For billing questions, use the phone number printed on the bill or statement because the billing entity can differ by facility, provider, date of service, or insurance plan.

Verify benefits early

Ask whether inpatient, PHP, IOP, and outpatient behavioral-health services are covered, whether prior authorization is required, and what your estimated cost share may be.

Ask about separate bills

Psychiatrists, physicians, labs, emergency departments, or other professionals may bill separately from the hospital facility.

Keep the EOB

Compare your insurance Explanation of Benefits with the hospital statement. Ask for an itemized statement if charges are unclear.

Insurance note: Do not rely only on a website list of accepted plans. Call the hospital and your insurer using the phone number on your card to verify network status, authorization, and patient responsibility.

Parking, transportation, and arrival planning

Plan ahead so the patient arrives safely and does not bring restricted items onto a unit.

Address

333 Harrisburg Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603.

Road access

Penn Medicine says the hospital is conveniently located near Routes 30, 283, 222, and 76.

Parking

Penn Medicine’s directions page says there is ample free parking on the premises.

Public transportation

Penn Medicine’s page lists transit/travel options such as Amtrak, Greyhound, Red Rose Transit Authority, rideshare, and airport references.

Lodging help

For families staying in the community, Penn Medicine directions guidance points to Lancaster General Hospital concierge desk at 717-544-7376 for lodging information and assistance.

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital map and directions

Use the map for general navigation. For immediate safety emergencies, call 911 instead of driving someone without emergency support.

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital
333 Harrisburg Ave
Lancaster, PA 17603
Main: 717-740-4100
Assessments: 717-740-4160

The hospital is located on Harrisburg Avenue in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Confirm admission, assessment, and visitor instructions by phone before arrival unless emergency services are needed.

Official source checklist for Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital patients

Use these sources for final verification because phone numbers, admissions procedures, visitor rules, insurance, and program availability can change.

Official source	What it verifies	What to do after opening it
Penn Medicine hospital page	Address, phone number, 24-hour status, partnership information, psychiatric hospital overview, and patient-resource links.	Use it to confirm the latest facility profile, map, and official patient links.
Penn Medicine behavioral health page	Behavioral-health emergency instructions, 988, Lancaster County Crisis Intervention, inpatient treatment context, and mental-health services.	Use it for crisis-routing language and broader Penn Medicine Lancaster behavioral-health options.
Directions and parking	Road access, parking, public transportation links, air-travel references, and lodging-help contact.	Use it before traveling for assessment, admission, visiting, or discharge pickup.
Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital website	Hospital programs, assessment contact, patient resources, and facility-specific behavioral-health information.	Use it to check current program details and hospital-specific patient guidance.
Program overview rack card	Specialized program names including Intensive Adult, Psych/Med Adult, Adolescent, and Adult Women’s Suite.	Use it to understand program categories before calling for assessment.
Adult IOP flyer	Intensive Outpatient Program description and assessment phone number.	Use it when asking whether evening IOP or step-down care fits the patient’s needs.
Adult PHP flyer	Partial Hospitalization Program description and structured outpatient-care purpose.	Use it when comparing PHP with inpatient or IOP care.
Release-of-information form	Records-release phone, fax, authorization categories, and privacy language.	Use it when requesting medical records or sending records to another provider.
Penn Medicine billing FAQs	Billing, insurance, EOB, detailed statement, emergency balance-billing protections, and financial-assistance context.	Use it for Penn/Lancaster billing basics, but always follow the phone number on your specific statement.
Lancaster County BHDS resources	County behavioral-health and crisis-resource routing.	Use it for local support beyond hospital-based treatment.

Independent guide notice: This page is not Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, Penn Medicine, Universal Health Services, Lancaster County Crisis Intervention, 988, an emergency service, a medical-records office, or a substitute for professional medical advice. Always verify treatment, crisis, admissions, records, billing, and visitor information with official sources.

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital FAQs

Common patient, family, admission, crisis, records, visitor, insurance, and parking questions.

1. What is the address of Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital?

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital is located at 333 Harrisburg Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603.

2. What is the main phone number for Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital?

The main hospital phone number listed by Penn Medicine is 717-740-4100. Use it for general hospital routing, department transfer, and facility questions.

3. What number do I call for an assessment?

Hospital materials list 717-740-4160 for confidential, no-cost assessments available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 911 first if there is immediate danger.

4. What should I do in a mental-health emergency in Lancaster County?

Call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, call or text 988, or call Lancaster County Crisis Intervention at 717-394-2631. Use emergency help immediately if someone may harm themselves or someone else.

5. Does Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital treat adults and adolescents?

Yes. Penn Medicine describes inpatient treatment for adults and adolescents needing urgent, 24-hour care for a mental-health crisis, and hospital materials describe adult and adolescent program options.

6. Does Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital offer PHP or IOP?

Yes. Hospital materials describe an adult Partial Hospitalization Program and an adult Intensive Outpatient Program. Call 717-740-4160 to ask about assessment, schedule, eligibility, and insurance authorization.

7. How do I request medical records from Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital?

Use the hospital’s release-of-information process. Published forms list phone 717-740-4172 and fax 717-740-4063. A signed authorization is usually required, and behavioral-health records may have extra privacy protections.

8. Can family members get updates about a patient?

Only when permitted by patient consent, guardian authority, law, or hospital policy. Families can usually share safety and history information with staff, but staff may be limited in what they can disclose back.

9. Is parking available at Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital?

Yes. Penn Medicine’s directions page says there is ample free parking on the premises at Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital.

10. What should I bring for admission or assessment?

Bring photo ID, insurance card, medication list, allergy list, current provider information, emergency contacts, guardian/legal documents if applicable, and comfortable approved clothing. Call ahead to confirm restricted items and unit rules.