Residential treatment centers like Havenwyck Hospital in Auburn Hills play an essential role in the healthcare system and addressing mental health needs. Residential treatment centers are geared toward mental health and individualized treatment for vulnerable populations. This may include people struggling with mental health issues, addiction, or behavioral challenges.

Facilities like Havenwyck Hospital must provide quality care for all individuals while prioritizing their safety. The staff are also required to adhere to professional standards of care. Meeting these requirements lowers the risk of patients and staff members suffering from abuse, neglect, malpractice, or sexual abuse.

If you or a family member are a patient in a residential treatment center, you have certain legal rights, including access to quality care, maintaining dignity, and being protected.

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When the staff or other patients violate these rights and subject you to abuse, negligence, or harm, a Michigan residential treatment center abuse lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you hold the at-fault party accountable and pursue compensation.

About Havenwyck Hospital

Overview

Havenwyck Hospital is a residential treatment center located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. This facility has 182 licensed inpatient beds and is located at 1525 University Drive, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Havenwyck Hospital provides mental health care, therapeutic services, personalized treatment, behavioral support, telehealth, and a partial hospitalization program.

The facility understands that mental illnesses are often on a continuum. That is why they specialize in treatment options for every part of that continuum, such as inpatient and outpatient care. Every patient will work with professionals who specialize in mental health to create a long-term treatment plan.

Most services at Havenwyck Hospital are available to individuals of all ages, including children, adolescents, and adults. The partial-day hospital program in Auburn Hills serves children, teens, and adults.

Ownership and Affiliations

Havenwyck Hospital in Auburn Hills is owned and operated by Universal Health Services, Inc., a large parent company. The legal business name for this facility in Michigan is Havenwyck Hospital, Inc. Universal Health Services manages over 400 healthcare locations across the United States, hundreds of which focus on mental health concerns and individualized treatment.

In addition to Havenwyck Hospital, UHS oversees several other Midwest residential treatment centers, including:

Notable Legal Actions Against Havenwyck Hospital

Havenwyck Hospital, sometimes called Havenwyck Center, has not always lived up to its standard of providing quality care to children, adolescents, and adults. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against the Auburn Hills facility for various violations.

Here are some notable legal actions that have involved this facility in the past.

Elaina Thomas was a patient’s mother at Havenwyck Hospital at the time of this lawsuit, which concluded in November 2012. She claimed that a social worker employed by the hospital called Child Protective Services and falsely reported that Thomas had threatened to strangle her son.

However, the United States district court hearing the Auburn Hills case dismissed her claim as it was considered frivolous and failed to state a claim for which relief may be granted [1].

Estate of Shooting Death Victim Sues Havenwyck Hospital For Failing to Warn

In 2006, a case was concluded and dismissed against Havenwyck Hospital in Auburn Hills after the shooting death of Steven Latimer.

Latimer’s 16-year-old son had been admitted to Havenwyck Hospital after displaying violent and aggressive behavior while also threatening Latimer. After being discharged, Latimer took his son on vacation and was fatally shot during the trip.

Tina Latimer, representing Steven’s estate, filed a lawsuit against the facility and a specific doctor who she claimed had failed to warn Latimer of the danger his son presented.

The court dismissed the lawsuit because treatment records from Havenwyck Hospital indicated that the patient made no threats of violence during his stay. This freed the facility from being obligated to warn the father upon the patient’s discharge of potential danger [2].

Havenwyck Hospital’s Parent Company Pays $117 Million Settlement for False Claims Act Violations

While this Auburn Hills hospital has successfully served many children, adolescents, and adults, some of its practices have been questioned due to concerns about the parent company, Universal Health Services.

In 2020, the company paid a $117 million settlement for billing fraud and False Claims Act violations. Michigan-based residential treatment centers, including Havenwyck Hospital, accounted for $2.4 million.

Among the violations were billing for services not rendered, keeping patients, including adolescents, in facilities too long to bill Medicaid and Medicare more, and failing to provide adequate care for all patients. These violations resulted in fraud, and many children, adolescents, and adults did not receive the care they needed from UHS-affiliated centers [3].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Havenwyck Hospital

Havenwyck Hospital is responsible for patients of all ages, including adolescents. The state licenses the Havenwyck team to provide quality care, comfortable environments, and mental health support to children, adolescents, and adults who need it.

Unfortunately, inspections by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have revealed numerous deficiencies in recent years.

Here are some weaknesses found at Havenwyck Hospital of Michigan that compare unfavorably to state and national averages.

Only .2% of healthcare workers at Havenwyck were fully updated with COVID-19 vaccinations, compared to the national average of 13.7%.
Only 50% of patients were assessed and given influenza vaccinations, compared to the national average of 77%.
Only 26% of patients with alcohol abuse disorders received or refused a brief intervention during their stay, compared to the national average of 60%.
Only 6% of Havenwyck patients who screened positive for drug or alcohol use disorders during inpatient stays either received a prescription for addiction treatment or received a referral for addiction recovery upon discharge, compared to the national average of 61%.
0% of Havenwyck patients who use tobacco received a referral for outpatient counseling and a prescription for medications to help them quit upon discharge, compared to the national average of 16%.
Only 54.4% of patients admitted to the facility with a principal diagnosis of mental illness or substance use disorders participated in an outpatient visit for treatment within 30 days of discharge, compared to the national average of 60% [4].

Understanding Your Rights

Patients in a residential treatment program have certain rights under state and federal laws. Among those rights are the right to quality care, the right to personal dignity, and the right to be protected from harm. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you create a strong case against Havenwyck Hospital if these rights have been violated, resulting in abuse or neglect.

Individuals and families harmed by licensed residential treatment centers can sue for compensation for legal damages. Potential damages may include lost income, medical bills, future medical costs, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Those interested in pursuing legal action against Havenwyck Hospital must do so before the statute of limitations runs out. In Michigan, you have two years to file medical malpractice claims and three years for general personal injury. This could include negligence or abuse in a residential treatment center.

Hiring an experienced attorney is essential when pursuing legal action against Havenwyck Center. For a sexual abuse case, you need a lawyer with experience. The same applies to surgical errors, medication mistakes, or medical neglect. The Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers team can help you seek compensation for various types of abuse and neglect.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

You need experienced legal support to succeed with your case and claim compensation. Our residential treatment facility abuse lawyers are ready to create a strong case on your behalf by gathering evidence, assessing damages, and negotiating for fair compensation.

First, you can contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation about your case. Whether the case involves children, adolescents, or adults, a qualified attorney can answer your questions, giving you the space to make an informed decision.

Another advantage we offer is the contingency fee agreement. Instead of paying upfront legal fees and increasing your burden, our team only receives payment if we successfully recover your settlement. With numerous incredible referral sources, you can discover how our track record of success speaks for itself.

If you are interested in requesting a free case evaluation, call our team today at 888-424-5757 or complete the online form. We will ensure licensed facilities like Havenwyck Hospital are held accountable for wrongdoing while securing compensation for your suffering.

Resources: [1] Casetext, [2] Justia, [3] Michigan.gov, [4] CMS

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.