RWH week 7
Presentation on Private Mental Health Practice
Ramona Wilkerson
Herzing University
10-6-24
1
Current Practice Setting
The setting is private mental health practice which operates independently from larger healthcare systems.
It offers specialized mental health services in a more personalized and flexible environment.
The patient population includes individuals experiencing conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and others (Wang et al., 2023). Each of these conditions presents unique challenges in terms of diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient engagement. In terms of demographic, it can include working with adolescents, adults, and seniors facing both acute and chronic mental health issues. A multidisciplinary team is suitable to handle the issues and can include therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors who are mental health professionals. The practice emphasizes outpatient care which is cost-effective and less disruptive to patients’ daily lives. All patients with mental health issues will integrate therapy and medication management into their routines.
2
Identified Clinical/Practice Issue
The issue is high patient non-adherence to treatment plans (Stewart et al., 2022).
Non-adherence can occur in various forms like missing scheduled appointments, failing to follow prescribed medication regimens, neglecting to engage in recommended therapy sessions, or ignoring self-care strategies.
Non-adherence significantly compromises the effectiveness of mental health treatments. Mental health care treatment plans are designed to work over time, and missing medications or therapy sessions disrupts that process. When patients do not adhere to their prescribed treatments, they are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health crises which leads to an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Also non-adherence places a heavy burden on mental health providers who must repeatedly address the same issues without making meaningful progress. Patients who do not adhere to their treatment plans often experience little to no improvement in their mental health and this can lead to dissatisfaction with the care they receive.
3
Collaborative Practice Strategy
A multidisciplinary care team approach is the best strategy to address complex mental health challenges (Durand & Fleury, 2021).
This strategy promotes shared decision-making which ensures that patients are active participants in their treatment plans.
The core of this strategy involves a team-based approach where mental health professionals who are therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors work closely with primary care providers and patient support systems which includes family members or caregivers. The mental health professionals will manage the psychological and emotional aspects of the patient’s condition, while primary care providers help monitor physical health conditions that may contribute to or be affected by mental health. Additionally, involving family or caregivers ensures that the patient has a support network to help with treatment adherence and daily self-care. To ensure seamless care, the multidisciplinary team holds regular case consultations where they discuss the patient’s progress, challenges, and any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan.
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How the Strategy Addresses the Issue
A major benefit of the multidisciplinary approach is enhanced communication.
When mental health professionals, primary care providers, and family members work together, the patient receives consistent messaging about their treatment plan.
A result is improvement of physical health and social factors such as relationships and support systems as the multidisciplinary team approach allows for the development of comprehensive treatment plans that address all aspects of a patient’s well-being. Further, there can be greater accountability and patient support that leads to better adherence. When multiple providers and family members are involved in a patient’s care, there are more opportunities to check in on progress, reinforce the importance of adherence, and offer encouragement. There will then be a trend of better care management as the patients may feel more accountable for their health when they know that their providers are working together and that they have a support network invested in their well-being.
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Rationale for Selecting This Strategy
Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD often involve multiple dimensions which are psychological, social, and sometimes even physical (Singh et al., 2022).
As a result, each aspect of the patient’s condition is addressed.
One of the primary reasons for non-adherence is the lack of patient engagement in their treatment plans. This strategy emphasizes shared decision-making, where patients actively participate in crafting their care plans alongside their healthcare providers. By involving patients in this way, they obtain a sense of ownership and responsibility for their treatment which boosts their commitment to following through.
Further, the study leverages expertise from various disciplines for comprehensive care since mental health is multifaceted and no single discipline can address all the factors that influence a patient’s well-being. Leveraging the expertise of various professionals will ensure that the care team develops a comprehensive treatment plan that integrates all aspects of the patient’s health.
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Expected Outcomes
Increase in treatment adherence rates
Improved patient mental health outcomes
Reduction in emergency interventions and hospitalizations
Higher patient satisfaction and trust in healthcare team
With enhanced communication, accountability, and support systems in place, patients are more likely to attend scheduled appointments, take their medications as prescribed, and actively participate in therapy sessions. Moving on, patients who consistently engage in therapy, take prescribed medications, and practice recommended self-care strategies are more likely to see reductions in symptoms like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
One of the major impacts of non-adherence is the increased likelihood of mental health crises which often require emergency room visits or hospitalizations (Stewart et al., 2022). By improving adherence and providing continuous monitoring, this collaborative approach helps prevent relapses or deteriorations in the patient’s condition.
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Implementation Plan
The first step is regular multidisciplinary team meetings for case reviews.
The second step is to involve patients in care planning and decision-making.
The third step is to provide training for staff on collaboration techniques.
The first step to establish routine meetings where mental health professionals and primary care providers discuss patient cases. These case reviews will allow team members to share updates on the patient’s progress, discuss challenges, and collaboratively adjust treatment plans as needed. There will then be open communication that ensures that all members of the care team are aligned in their approach to each patient. A core component of this strategy is engaging patients in their own care during the intake process and follow-up appointments. They shall be invited to participate in shared decision-making where their preferences, concerns, and goals will be taken into consideration. In order for the multidisciplinary approach to be effective, all staff members need to be trained in collaboration techniques which are team-based care models, conflict resolution, and patient-centered communication.
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Conclusion
Collaboration among healthcare professionals and involving patients in their care will create a supportive environment that encourages adherence to treatment plans.
The complexity of mental health issues clearly needs a comprehensive and coordinated approach.
A multidisciplinary strategy is now the best since it allows for the integration of various expertise by professionals who ensure that all aspects of a patient’s well-being are addressed. This is particularly beneficial in private mental health practices where individualized care is highly imperative. By collaborating across disciplines providers can offer tailored and holistic treatment that meets the diverse needs of their patients. The success of this strategy is contingent upon maintenance of open lines of communication among the care team, patients, and their support systems. Continuous education for both patients and staff is essential to ensure that everyone involved understands their roles and responsibilities in the care process.
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References
Durand, F., & Fleury, J. (2021). A multilevel study of patient-centered care perceptions in mental health teams. BMC Health Services Research, 21.
Singh, V., Kumar, A., & Gupta, S. (2022). Mental Health Prevention and Promotion—A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13.
Stewart, S.-J. F., Moon, Z., & Horne, R. (2022). Medication nonadherence: health impact, prevalence, correlates and interventions. Psychology & Health, 38(6), 1–40.
Wang, K., Feng, M., Fang, Y., Lv, L., Sun, L., Yang, L., Guo, P., Cheng, F., Qian, C., & Chen, X. (2023). Psychological trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma-related depression: A mini-review. World Journal of Psychiatry, 13(6), 331-339.
