MDNews - Central Pennsylvania

Philhaven has a lso incorporated the concept of open access into its outpa- tient locations. Similar to an urgent care model, open access enables patients to receive a n eva luation at a Phi l haven outpatient location without an appoint- ment. This ensures their current needs a re a ssessed in a timely ma nner a nd that they a re quick ly connected to the appropriate level of ca re. "Open access ca re a llows us to pro - vide a better resource for communit y fa mi ly physicia ns," Hess says. " This wa lk-in, triage ser vice ensures patients get ca re when they need it — not simply when it 's convenient for us — a nd is a n innovative, for wa rd-thinking model." In addition, Phi l haven of fers tele- hea lth ser vices at its ma in ca mpus in Mount Gretna a nd at the Prince Street lo c at ion i n L a nc a s t er. T he s er v ic e pr o v i de s m e d i c a t ion m a n a ge m e nt a nd is ava i lable interna lly to current Philhaven patients. However, WellSpan of f icia ls a re ca ref u l ly eva luating the ex pa nsion of telehea lt h capabi lities to emergency depa r tments at a ll of the hea lth system's hospita ls. A s the f ield of t elehea lt h evolves a nd l icen su re requ i rement s become less onerous, Hess a lso hopes to ex pa nd telehea lth to WellSpa n prima r y ca re practices. STREAMLINING PROTOCOLS FOR INPATIENT CARE In Central Pennsylvania, a great need exists for inpatient psychiatric care — a level of care available to patients who present a threat to their own safety or the safety of others. Philhaven has 103 inpatient beds in its system, and on any given day, it is at roughly 95 percent capacity. WellSpan Health has a 63-bed inpatient unit at WellSpan York Hospital and a seven-bed inpatient unit at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital in Lancaster County. These units are also consistently near capacity, with rates aver- aging above 85 percent, according to Hess. Philhaven is strea m lining protocols for inpatient menta l hea lth ca re in Ada ms, La ncaster, Leba non a nd York counties. W hile the planning process is in its infancy, current strategies include expa nding the unit at WellSpa n Ephrata Communit y Hospita l from seven to 15 beds. Need a ssessments a re a lso ongoing in Ada ms a nd York counties. " We're looking at requests for ca re versus the number of beds in the communities a nd how that 's evolving," Hess says. " We will a lso consider nationa l a nd loca l statistics about the preva lence of menta l illness. These metrics ca n be applied to reg iona l population statistics to help estimate need." In addition, Philhaven is working with community partners, i nclud i n g hea lt h s ystem s, schools, pa stors a nd refer r i n g providers, to gain a better understanding of community needs. "Our business model is one in which we consistently work with the community to understa nd new a nd emerg ing behav- iora l hea lth trends," Hess says. " We then work collaboratively with our pa r tners to develop ser vices that meet these needs. Our overa ll goa l is to enha nce patient outcomes, which will result in a more menta lly hea lthy communit y." For more information about the behavioral health services available at WellSpan Health , visit WellSpan.org. To learn more about Philhaven or the recent affiliation , visit Philhaven .org. ■ WellSpan and Philhaven: Serving the Region Now and in the Future THE UNITED STATE S has a critical shortage of mental health providers. Mental Health America estimates that the ratio of mental health providers to U.S. residents is 1-to-790. Pennsylvania is ranked among the top 15 states in terms of providing access to behavioral health care, according to Mental Health America. However, there are 128 designated health professional shortage areas in the state for mental health care. Now part of WellSpan Health, Philhaven is working to establish partnerships with local and national organizations that will enhance regional educational opportunities for people aspiring to become psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, counselors and other mental health providers. The organization is developing a behavioral health training program for nurse practitioner students at York College. The possibility of launching a psychiatric fellowship program at Philhaven is also in the exploratory stages. Finally, WellSpan Health and Philhaven both have existing American Psychiatric Association-certified internship programs for master's-level professionals. This year, Philhaven will host approximately 30 interns. By combining these programs, the hope is to expand the number of interns to upwards of 40 in the next year. M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A L P E N N S Y LVA N I A ■ 2 016 1 5

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