PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAMS
The Behavioral Health Standards Organization (BHSO) developed the Partial Hospitalization Program Standard (BHSO 4002) to elevate the expectations for non-residential, intensive behavioral health services. This standard defines the essential elements of a PHP that provides a critical bridge between inpatient stabilization and traditional outpatient care, where structure, clinical rigor, and patient dignity must all coexist.
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Under BHSO 4002, licensed partial hospitalization programs must offer a minimum of twenty-five hours of structured therapeutic programming each week, combining group therapy, individual counseling, psychiatric oversight, and family engagement services. Every program must be led by an experienced Clinical Director and supported by a multidisciplinary team, ensuring that clients receive individualized care guided by evidence-based practices and frequent treatment plan reviews.
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PHP facilities operating under this standard must offer safe, ADA-compliant environments that support both therapeutic activities and emergency preparedness. Psychiatric services must be available on a weekly basis for medication management, and crisis response protocols must be embedded into daily operations. Every admission is grounded in a full clinical assessment, and every discharge must be part of a coordinated continuity-of-care strategy.
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BHSO 4002 also demands a strong commitment to measurable outcomes, ethical transparency, and ongoing improvement. Programs must track clinical progress using validated instruments, maintain clear client rights protections, and operate free from financial conflicts of interest in referral practices.
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Meeting the BHSO PHP Standard is not a matter of simple compliance. It is a demonstration of leadership in behavioral health — a commitment to providing an intensive level of care that is accountable to clients, to communities, and to a higher set of standards. Programs that meet or exceed BHSO 4002 are eligible for Commissioned status, signifying their role as trusted stewards in the pathway to recovery.