My partner, an elderly female struggling with anxiety and depression, stayed at FHE Health for four weeks, starting in late February. Her primary therapist and I agreed that an additional two more weeks would be helpful so she could undergo “brain mapping.” So, after paying $23,500 for four weeks, we paid another $14,500 — $10,000 for two more weeks and $4,500 for “brain mapping.”
To make a long story short, it’s been nine weeks since my partner came home, and we still don’t know the results of the “brain mapping.”
The therapist said she would discuss it with my partner before she left. She didn’t. (She discussed it briefly with me over the phone one evening, but it was too much to digest so I asked her to email me the report; she never did.) Then she said she’d discuss it with us at the discharge meeting. She didn't. (And we, overwhelmed by the process, forgot to ask.) Then, when I texted her asking about it, the therapist said she’d call to discuss it. Despite repeated texts (the therapist’s preferred means of communication), the therapist has not called with the results.
This was my partner’s final text to the therapist: “Nearly a month later I still await the results of the brain mapping. I stayed 2 extra weeks and paid $14,500 for this process and I find it unconscionable that I still have no idea of the results. Monday I met with the new psychiatrist and he asked about the brain mapping. I felt absurd that I could not explain the results.”
I contacted FHE’s national liaison, who was extremely helpful in the beginning getting my partner admitted. I explained the situation and told her we wanted our $4,500 refunded. She suggested we ask my partner's new psychiatrist whether he could get the report. I told the liaison: It's not the psychiatrist's responsibility to obtain the report; we paid FHE for "brain mapping," so it's FHE's responsibility to provide and explain the results to us.
After my complaints to the national liaison, the CEO of FHE called me. He offered to refund half the $4,500. We considered it, but finally said no. I told him: If you go to a clothing store and buy a suit, leave it for alterations, but then never receive the suit, you don't want half your money back; you want it all.
The CEO said FHE's records showed that the therapist did call my partner and discuss the "brain mapping" results. That's simply not true. My partner's phone shows no calls from the therapist or anybody else at FHE, and I have a string of texts from the therapist in which she continues to promise to call -- but never does.
As my partner said, FHE's conduct has been unconscionable. If you're considering FHE as your treatment center, then you might want to consider our experience. I don't want to say that FHE "stole" our $4,500, but it sure seems like a ripoff to us.
