Mapping Out A Plan of Action For An Integrated Agency
1. Mapping Out A Plan of Action For An Integrated Agency
The agency is a faith-based private practice located in central Kentucky. The agency has services for individuals of all ages. The agency focuses on treating the whole person. Services include behavioral health treatment, targeted case management, and medication management. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor (LPCC-S).
What this Integrated Agency Looks Like
The agency’s mission statement is to provide quality care to all individuals and their families by treating the whole person. “Evidence demonstrates that physical and behavioral health problems often occur at the same time for people with serious mental illness” (Miller, 2014, p. 2). Due to the combination of physical and behavioral health problems occurring co-morbidly, it is our mission to provide holistic care to the individual through medical and mental health services.
The agency will consist of medical and mental health services with full collaboration. Both services will be located in the same facility and will be sharing the same space (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)-Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), n.d., p. 1). The medical and mental health teams will be working together by having “formal and informal meetings to support integrated model of care”, “communicating consistently” at all levels, and “resolving most or all of the system issues” (SAMHSA-HRSA, n.d., p. 1). There will be “one treatment plan for all patients” and “all patient health needs are treated for all patients by a team, who function effectively together” (SAMHSA-HRSA, n.d., p. 2). Collaboration and teamwork between medical and mental health services will be prioritized to ensure quality assurance.
This agency is an outpatient clinic. There are team members who serve in different roles to meet the needs of the whole person. Under the mental health umbrella, there will be three licensed therapists. There will also be two targeted case managers supervised by the LPCC-S. Under the medical umbrella, there will be two psychiatric nurse practitioners who will perform assessments, diagnose, prescribe medications as needed, and perform medication management services for patients. In the agency, there will be a patient services coordinator who will schedule/reschedule appointments for all patients and will verify that all patient files are up to date. There will also be an insurance claims specialist, a quality assurance manager, an accounting clerk, and a human resources director.
Plan of Action
There are several ways that medical and mental health services will work together to improve patient outcomes. There will be weekly meetings among staff who provide services to the same client. During these meetings, treatment plans will be discussed to ensure that care is consistent among all providers. Patient cases will also be discussed and providers can consult with one another and address any situations. The targeted case managers will work alongside the licensed therapists and the psychiatric nurse practitioners to track patient progress and ensure coordinated care. Medical and mental health providers will also take part in training to educate and enhance an understanding of both health issues.
Essential Strategies For Effective and Efficient Client Care
Some strategies that are essential for effective and efficient client care include interpersonal communication, collaboration and teamwork, and care planning and care coordination. Interpersonal communication involves being able to “establish rapport quickly and to communicate effectively with consumers of healthcare, their family members, and other providers” (Hoge et al., 2014, p. 1). Interpersonal communication enhances staff and patient satisfaction, decreases the likelihood of medical errors, allows the staff to feel respected, and reduces burnout and stress. Collaboration and teamwork involve being able to “function effectively as a member of an interprofessional team that includes behavioral health and primary care providers, consumes, and family members” (Hoge et al., 2014, p. 1). Collaboration and teamwork enhance the quality of patient care, lead to efficient and timely interventions, allow the sharing of ideas and knowledge among staff, and promote problem-solving. Care planning and care coordination involves being able to “create and implement integrated care plans, ensuring access to an array of linked services, and the exchange of information among consumers, family members, and providers” (Hoge et al., 2014, p. 1). Care planning and care coordination ensures that patients will receive care that is tailored to their specific needs, promotes consistency in care among all providers, and reduces the cost of care for patients.
Ensuring Client Understanding of Available Community Resources
Two strategies that would ensure client understanding of community resources available are a comprehensive resources list and digital platforms. The agency must have a regularly updated comprehensive resource list to provide to patients. Some patients have needs beyond the services offered in the clinic. The resource list will include providers within the agency, local emergency services, local homeless shelters, local food banks, and local crisis centers. Each resource will consist of contact information, hours of operation, and an address if needed. If a patient is requesting resources that are not on this list, a targeted case manager will provide the patient with resources applicable to their needs.
In this agency, we also make information about community resources more accessible through digital platforms. Each patient has an online portal that they can access via a webpage, or our mobile app. Patients will be able to easily search resources based on their needs. Our agency also frequently updates our social media platforms to share important information about community resources.
Community Outreach Team
A community outreach team that is a good fit for my interagency design is a Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Team. The team will focus on providing immediate support and intervention for individuals experiencing mental health crises or having suicidal ideations. The team will be equipped to conduct risk assessments and safety plans and will offer follow-up support after an initial crisis.
Responsibilities of the Counselor
The counselor has many responsibilities during local, regional, or national crises, disasters, or other trauma-causing events. The counselor has the responsibility to be a beacon of hope, a crisis manager, an advocate, a resource, and a resilience builder (Counselor Brief, 2023, p. 1). The counselor works with individuals, families, groups, and communities to provide emotional support and guidance to those affected by a crisis (Counselor Brief, 2023, p. 1). The counselor also assesses a situation, identifies a need, and develops a plan of action (Counselor Brief, 2023, p. 1). The counselor will also “work to ensure that individuals and communities receive the support and resources they need to recover” (Counselor Brief, 2023, p. 1). The counselor also provides resources to help individuals cope with situations and future crises (Counselor Brief, 2023, p. 1).
A counselor is required to be knowledgeable in quickly assessing an individual’s mental health status, risk of harm, and immediate needs when in a crisis. A counselor must also be knowledgeable in understanding psychological reactions to crises. A counselor must be skilled in providing brief counseling to individuals to help them cope. A counselor must also have effective communication skills for coordinating with other team members.
Training
A counselor is required to have specific training relevant to emergency management. A counselor should have evidence-based and trauma-informed crisis training (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2020, p. 31). Evidence-based counseling, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), are both effective approaches in reducing symptoms and trauma (Math et al., 2015, p. 267 – 268). A counselor must also be trained in mental health first aid, suicide training, and HIPPA confidentiality.
There are certain roles and responsibilities required to be a member of my agency’s emergency management response team. My agency’s emergency response team will provide both crisis and suicide prevention. Supervisees must be trained in mental health first aid. Mental health first aid involves teaching a member “how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders” (Mental Health First Aid, 2024). A supervisee will also be required to Applied Suicide Intervention Training (ASIST). ASIST is a workshop in suicide first aid that teaches members how to recognize suicidal thoughts and helps individuals create a plan to support their safety (Centre for Suicide Prevention, n.d.). Other training such as crisis intervention and HIPPA Confidentiality will be required for all members.
Questions
· Are there other specific trainings that are required for crisis/suicide prevention?
· Is there a time frame for completing all requirements and training once a member begins training?
· Would it be beneficial for a member of the state’s crisis response team to conduct training/workshops?
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