Voluntary Admissions: Persons who believe themselves to be in need of inpatient treatment for mental illness are encouraged to sign a Request for Admission as a voluntary patient. A psychiatrist will provide an evaluation to determine if the person is in need of the treatment offered at Cherry Hospital. If the person is found to need this treatment, they will be admitted as a voluntary patient. A voluntary patient may request to be discharged and the hospital must discharge them within 72 hours (3 days). If the psychiatrist has reason to believe the patient is dangerous to self or others, he can file a petition for involuntary commitment.  

Involuntary Admissions: A petition for admission must be made by a relative, friend, or physician. A physician evaluation in the community and a custody order signed by the magistrate are required prior to bringing the patient to Cherry. Once the person arrives, he will be evaluated within 24 hours by a psychiatrist who may release home or recommend commitment to the court. A court hearing must be held within 10 days after admission and these hearings are held each Thursday at Cherry Hospital.

Within a few days of admission, the patient will be contacted by a lawyer who will represent them at the commitment hearing (patient may have a lawyer of their choice at their expense). The hospital provided attorney may be reached at 919-731-3290.

At this hearing, the judge may discharge or commit the patient up to 90 days. The physician may discharge the patient whenever he feels the patient is ready.

The hospital charges patients for their stay; however, no one is refused treatment because of inability to pay. The patient or their legal representative needs to meet with a Patient Relations Representative to determine the charge which is based on the patient's ability to pay. At the patient's request, the hospital will file for Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance coverage while in the hospital.

Visitors

Visitors are important to our patients and are welcomed any day from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Special arrangements may be made to visit patients in the Psychiatric Medical Unit. Visitors are not allowed during school hours on the Adolescent Unit. Visitors under the age of 14 are not allowed to visit any patient on the ward without special permission from the attending physician.

Cherry Hospital serves the residents of 33 counties in Eastern North Carolina.

We provide inpatient psychiatric services to all individuals in the region who meet requirements for admission. Our customers come from a variety of cultural backgrounds, ranging from rural farmlands, coastal plains, and urban locations.