Outpatient Psych & Medical

[bethjor]

I currently am working in an outpatient mental health facility and we are trying to integrate general medical care into our patient's care. We have talked about having a medical office (with a local medical health facility) within our offices so that both medical/mental care can be better coordinated with our clients. For instance we may have a client that is being treated for mental health issues, but also is having uncontrolled HTN issues. Our doctors do not treat the HTN, but refer them to see their PCP, which many times, they do not. Does anyone currently work in an outpatient setting where this is implemented? How is it set up? Any information I can find would be appreciated.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I really like this idea! I think it makes following the pt so much better for the pt and the staff. Considering the close relationship of physical and mental health. We do not do this at the hospital I am currently at. It's very frustrating to see some of our pts who are medically compromised go down the tubes because their medical issues are put on the back burner.

[elkpark]

The psychiatry division of the large academic medical center for which I work has (has had for many years, actually ...) an outpatient primary care clinic specifically for thechronically mentally ill. A bunch of our psychiatrists are double-boarded in psychiatry and internal medicine, and the clinic is staffed by physicians with those credentials, as well as internal medicine and family practice docs who just happen to be interested in working with that population.

This clinic does focus on primary care rather than psychiatric treatment (most of the clients are seen for their psychiatric treatment in other offices/settings), but, because it is operated by the psychiatry division of the medical center ("part of the family," as it were) and is specifically designed for the needs of this population, our psych people feel very comfortable coming there.

[x19amanda]

I currently work as an outpatient RN on a behavioral health floor, and we have recently reveieved a governement grant of over 4million dollars to renovate the floor and integrate kiosks that offer service such as medicaid, housing, etc. We also now have a primary care office, that has exam rooms and a full time nurse and MD. Each client that comes for their appointment with either me (the injection nurse), there therapist, or psychiatrist, is now asked to complete paperwork and is offered to be linked with ou primary care office on the floor. It's great!