Opinion ID: 1831327
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: future psychiatric and vocational rehabilitation center costs

Text: Dr. Jensen testified that Mrs. Walton would benefit from long term and intensive psychiatric treatment. Dr. Culver, defendant's psychiatric expert, agreed that she should continue to get psychotherapy. Dr. Jensen recommended a six-month program in a hospital facility that would include psychiatric and weight control treatment, drug detoxification, vocational rehabilitation and physical therapy in a structured environment. The cost would be about five thousand dollars a week for the institution and three thousand dollars a month for a psychiatrist for a total sum of $148,000. The trial judge awarded this amount. The court of appeal reversed the award. Dr. Bobby Roberts, a vocational rehabilitation evaluation specialist, first interviewed Mrs. Walton on January 19, 1988. After a series of written and physical tests, Dr. Roberts was of the opinion that Mrs. Walton needed a comprehensive six-month multi-disciplinary rehabilitation program which would include treatment by physical therapists, vocational counselors, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, a general physician and treatment for substance detoxification. Dr. Robert Voogt, a rehabilitation specialist, recommended a similar plan of treatment. Both testified that a six-month comprehensive program at such a facility would cost from $750 to $1000 per day. The amount awarded by the trial judge of $135,000 would cover a six-month stay at the cost of $750 a day. Defendants offered the testimony of Ranjan Shety, a physical therapist, who examined Mrs. Walton in February of 1988. He recommended a maximum of six months of physical therapy after which Mrs. Walton could return to sedentary employment. After reviewing the record, we think the trial judge erred in allowing awards for both future psychiatric treatment and for future rehabilitation. Each program was for six months. The psychiatric program described by Dr. Jensen would offer psychiatric treatment, drug detoxification, weight control, physical therapy and vocational rehabilitation in a structured environment. The program suggested by Dr. Roberts is so substantially similar to that described by Dr. Jensen that awards covering both programs would be duplicative. We think that the psychiatric treatment program recommended by Dr. Jensen will rehabilitate Mrs. Walton's major problems of depression, weight control and substance abuse and include therapy for her physical problems and vocational counseling as well. Hence, the trial judge erred in awarding sums to cover both psychiatric and vocational rehabilitation programs rather than solely for the psychiatric program. The court of appeal erred in disallowing sums to cover both programs. The trial judge correctly awarded $148,000 for future psychiatric treatment.