Fairwinds Treatment Center - Clearwater, Florida

Rafael M.

This place was a disaster for my daughter. They admitted my 12 year old daughter with anorexia, only to drop her at the local hospital emergency room only 2 days later. According to the staff there, she was tampering with her feeding tube. They knew this was an issue with her and they assured me she would have 24 hour supervision. Contrary to the instructions given by the hospital, they were using a feeding machine as supposed to a syringe. My daughter lost an additional 5 pounds while in their care for 2 days. They quickly packed her up and sent her to a hospital that is now 3 hours away from us. For a facility that charges $1,500 a day for patients, they should be better equipped to deal with anorexic patients and not drop them at the first sign of a challenge. How were they expecting to help our daughter with her illness? Did they think it would be easy? Don’t waste your time with this place unless you want your patient to lose more weight or be dropped at the first sign of trouble.

Josiris D.

I had a great experience at Fairwinds! The groups were helpful, I was able to see the doctor everyday Monday-Friday, and I had 2 sessions per week with my therapist plus one weekly family therapy session. The staff is caring and attentive. Just like with any treatment program though, YOU will get what YOU put into it. If you are not willing to do the work, you will not magically change. There has to be willingness and openmindedness. I am so grateful to this facility!

Bethany M.

Fairwinds saved my life. I've been sober for a year and a half and going strong because of the help I got there. I can honestly say if you want it, listen to everything being said to you there and do the work on yourself you will love your life. The nurses and therapist helped me in so many ways. I was comfortable and felt safe while I was there.

Janeen M.

This is a pretty solid facility. The staff of great and the center is clean- the community, whether you are there for addiction or E.D., is good too. I do have a few concerns or observations that I think should be made known before you consider coming. (EATING DISORDER)

Your intake admin may or may not mention this to you upon you arriving: The facility uses payphones- $1 per 2 minute call. Washing machine and Dryer combined is $1.25. You'll be paying 1400 a day only to be charged again inside walls to make phone calls and do laundry.
There are groups for both adolescents and adults, but both age ranges will have groups together on certain days, so if you're not a fan of being around adolescents as young as 12, good luck. It was a very common compliant that they will not consider changing any time soon. To get any outings (Walgreens/Restaurant), you will have to earn it by eating 100% for the day.
Every patient is given a weekly contract of what they need to accomplish and what activities you can do. In addition, after your very first family zoom session, you will then be able to get visitations.
Some nurses in the nursing station, when handing out medication, probably did not wear gloves. Popping a pill from a card into a medicine cup is one thing, but having them touch your pills with their bare fingers was very unsanitary. I believe it was an agency nurse who sneezed into her hand, and popped a pill into her hand to place it into my medicine cup.
I'm addition to them not wearing gloves, they will sometimes mess up your medication. They might forget some of the medicine you need to take, they might give you more than you need. I personally need to take my medroxy for the first 10 days of every month. I made sure to ask if it was in my cup, but they somehow managed to not give me most of my pills and I end up missing a much needed period- I have PCOS and I need medicine to have a menstrual cycle.
You're seen by a doctor every week at least once. Dr. B so far is the most complained against doctor that works there. It was a complaint that he offers unusual advice, gives aways pills, and there is a max of 30 secs you'll be in the office to see him. He has a scribe/assistant that he talks to on the phone, but he never disclosed that information to major of the patients there.
The kitchen is very good. If you are in E.D recovery, they will cook anything the way you want it as long as it is possible substitute or meal to accomplish. I do have my complaints however. You do have to be very specific to the kitchen for what you want, or it will not be prepared correctly. Even if you are, there is still a chance they just will not even attempt. I have asked for foods to be steamed, only to receive them raw or frozen. I asked for potato wedges in which was a menu item for that day, but they gave me a slice of baked potato even though they had potato wedges in the buffet line.
I think the biggest pro though with this facility is the fact that there's a stray cat that wonders outside to say hi to the patients. Your only way of staying sane here is by hanging out with the stray cat that we all love and care for.

Susan A.

Fair winds was awesome, staff and all. I was there for 8 months and Im hoping that if I need help again I could go back

J Q.

Entrapment. I willingly chose to be admitted. Fairwinds took my keys, and searched my luggage. Day 1 I was placed in the last room down the hall quite a ways from the Nursing office. I was not monitored. My heart went into arrhythmia and they were not aware until I walked down the hall to Nursing and reported my symptoms. That is dangerous. Finally, I was transferred by ambulance to a local ICU. I spent several days in ICU. My Fairwinds therapist was MIA related to her own health issues. I came down with bronchitis, reported it and was not treated. After my 28 days, my insurance would not pay for extended treatment. Fairwinds was pressuring me to self-pay and of course, that was beyond my ability. I sought discharge and was ignored. Fairwinds held my keys hostage until the 11th hour when my taxi was awaiting to take me to the airport for home. I should have called law enforcement.. Beware people!!

Nathalie R.

The staff is VERY professional, everybody we met are. Our son's therapist is giving us one on one time, returning phone calls and extremely helpful. They get personalized therapy and group therapy. I am very impressed. We are not out of the woods but at least we see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I do highly recommend.

Clemme S.

Fairwinds saved my life. I can’t find the words to express how much they helped me. Fairwinds was not the first treatment center I went to but it was by far the best. The staff was very friendly and supportive and the community environment was an integral part on my path to recovery. I was always treated with respect and kindness which is something that I had found lacking in other treatment centers. I would highly recommend Fairwinds to anyone who is in need of help.