Starting the IPN in Florida

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2018

Hon. This is the time to lawyer up. Even if you do have an issue. IPN is not your friend and does not under any circumstance have your best interest in mind. You will be sent for an "evaluation" which quite frankly will be nothing more than an interrogation that will make your head spin and make you seem like a raging drug user or whatever. You will get directed to a minimal choice of "rehabs" which probably will not take your insurance. Said rehab may be inpatient or outpatient or both. You won't be able to go back to work until those are done or nearly done and IPN issues your contract. Your contract will have a bunch of stipulations that will make finding a job a challenge.

I would say to expect a minimum of 4-6 months be for you are released to go back to work. The reason I recommend the attorney is that with one in your corner perhaps you will be protected from the sleazier evaluators/rehabs that are associated with IPN (yes, they are there) You may still have to do this and in the long run it may be a good thing but it should not be mind boggling punishment. You do have a right to know what you are getting into before you sign those papers and no IPN is not terribly forthcoming on information

Persephone Paige, ADN · Apr 7, 2018

It's completely individualized. I've seen some first time people be arrested, intervened on and the whole nine yards get approved for outpatient ( simply because they were poor). Hell, we're all poor! I've seen some first time people just admit they have a problem and get sent to 9 months of inpatient treatment. If you go to an evaluator who is affiliated with a treatment facility, it's nothing for them to tell you to take out a 2nd mortgage on your home to pay for treatment. They will ask you to borrow money from family, take out a personal loan, etc... Don't do it. Tell them you are broke because of your addiction. If they have a scholarship bed and insist that you go to their facility, ask to be put on the waiting list for that bed. Or, since it's your first time ask about outpatient. They want your money! They don't care what kind of financial aftermath you face. There is no rhyme or reason to why IPN sends whom where.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2018

It's completely individualized. I've seen some first time people be arrested, intervened on and the whole nine yards get approved for outpatient ( simply because they were poor). Hell, we're all poor! I've seen some first time people just admit they have a problem and get sent to 9 months of inpatient treatment. If you go to an evaluator who is affiliated with a treatment facility, it's nothing for them to tell you to take out a 2nd mortgage on your home to pay for treatment. They will ask you to borrow money from family, take out a personal loan, etc... Don't do it. Tell them you are broke because of your addiction. If they have a scholarship bed and insist that you go to their facility, ask to be put on the waiting list for that bed. Or, since it's your first time ask about outpatient. They want your money! They don't care what kind of financial aftermath you face. There is no rhyme or reason to why IPN sends whom where.

Pretty much, yeah....it's a financial flushing toilet. Whatever problem you might have will get attended to AFTER the farcical evaluation/treatment circus of IPN.

If Pope Francis were evaluated by these people, he'd be found to be a raging alcoholic because of daily consumption of sacrificial wine and would be asked to pawn some Vatican treasure to pay for treatment.

I've made cracks in past threads about if your wallet biopsy comes back positive, you wind up with inpatient treatment. My reference to that pertains to getting sent to an evaluator associated with a treatment facility and they sniff out the existence of money, they are apt to recommend inpatient treatment.

The original choices I was given were all either a 3 hour drive from my home or required an airline ticket (Georgia or South Carolina, really????) After balking at that, they came up with one less than an hour from home. Unfortunately it was the sleaziest of sleazy money suckers that did me more damage than good and that I still bear the scars of.

So no, no rhyme or reason...at all.

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Apr 9, 2018

Yeah a sure sign of BS is when the "professional evaluator" works for the rehab facility. That bought me 1 month inpatient ($400 per day) and four months IOP ($300 per day). That comes to about $40K. Thank God for a strong union and good insurance. If my job would have fired me and I had no insurance I couldn't have done this. Honestly, I have no idea how some people afford this disaster. I'm luckier than most and have ruined credit and thousands in debt.

sheracraft · Apr 22, 2018

Unfortunately, there is no way I can afford an attorney. Here's an update regarding my situation so far: I have been let go from my job, to be expected. I have no health insurance as of right now. I am moving back in with my mom (I moved from Orlando to Jacksonville this week to be with her) who is being ultra supportive and is helping me pay my bills and all IPN costs. IPN sent me my evaluation options.

All the ones in Gainesville work from a non-profit rehab with UF Shands. The doctor closest to me in Jacksonville works for a private for-profit rehab center. Both centers offer inpatient and outpatient services. So I feel like any of them could recommend their own rehab center...I do plan on divulging the fact that I have no income and no job so hopefully they'll have mercy on me, but other than that, I really just hear from all the posts that I need to just do what IPN says. And that's totally fine, I plan on doing whatever it takes to keep my license.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 22, 2018

Please do not post names per the TOS. Thank you.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2018

In deference to the TOS, and an abbreviated opinion, I would suggest Gainesville. I think they have more than just IPN/PRN for clients. That means they actually have to keep to certain standards. That place in Tampa, (which is also for profit, by the way) I am pretty well convinced would not be in business if not for IPN/PRN referrals and seemed to fly by the seat of their pants so to speak. I was stuck there and frankly found the place to be dangerous in multiple ways. As much loathing as I have for any of this mess, if you've got to dance this dance and those are your choices, Gainesville is probably your best bet.

Persephone Paige, ADN · Apr 22, 2018

I agree with Cats, I would avoid Tampa.

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Apr 23, 2018

I read stuff like this and I realize how "lucky" I was when this tornado hit. I didn't get fired from my job thanks to a collective bargaining agreement and my insurance paid for the bulk of the 5 months in inpatient then outpatient treatment. I also had enough leave built up after many years of service to continue to collect a paycheck the whole time. What in God's name do you do in this situation with no insurance and no income?

I have no idea how some people in the situation of losing a job and their insurance can even afford to continue in these hideous programs. I couldn't have done it. Heck even with my "luck" I'm financially wrecked. My thoughts, support and prayers are with you all.

sheracraft · Jun 1, 2018

I have received a referral from IPN to see a neuropsychiatrist for personality testing before any treatment recommendations from the addiction specialist. Has anyone gone through this? What does this consist of? I was told that it will take another 2 weeks to get the report and then another two to make recommendations from the report.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2018

That was the word I got from the initial evaluation. That cost me ANOTHER $3000 some. None of the initial choices I was given could do what they were wanting. (Curious that IPN would give me options for this testing that did not do it, but I long ago stopped trying to make sense of any of this) Anyhow, that's how I landed in the clutches of that horror show in Tampa. The "5 day neuropsychiatric evaluation" turned out to be the standard first week of thier boilerplate program. I showed up for this thing with my toothbrush and 5 changes of clothes. I didn't come home for 6 months. I've got an actual psychiatric diagnosis so it didn't occur to me that I was getting roped into drug rehab. Talk about clueless and naive. But that was back when I still thought IPN gave a rats you know what about anything other than my wallet.

Assuming it's not the trumped up garbage I got shoved through, it will probably consist of some chatting with a psychiatrist, a psychologist, some computer based testing. Mine had a Rorschach test (I was surprised they actually do those anymore) I'm not sure if that's standard or it was part of the garbage I got slung at me.