| Psychiatry:
Promoting Recovery |
Bronx-Lebanon’s Department of Psychiatry offers comprehensive
care for mental health and chemical dependency problems that
are affecting adults, adolescents, and children. The department
accounts for more than 250,000 visits annually, and is widely
recognized as a leader in the provision of community mental
health services.
“This is a very exciting time for our ambulatory services,” stated
Dr. Jeffrey M. Levine, Chairman, Psychiatry. During the fall of 2009,
the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic moved into newly renovated space
at the hospital’s Fulton Pavilion.
Additionally, the current Life
Enrichment and Mental Illness and Chemical Addiction (MICA) Day
Programs were reformulated as intensive clinics, and also moved
into the new site. “Our professionals can now provide a unique continuum
of care in modern and welcoming space,” stated Dr. Levine. |
“All of our exciting efforts and initiatives,
including our planned Life Recovery
Center for those suffering from chemical
dependency, will help make recovery a
reality for residents of the Bronx.”
DR. JEFFREY M. LEVINE, CHAIRMAN, PSYCHIATRY |
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The Family Wellness Center, a joint project of the Departments
of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, opened in 2008. It is a unique
approach, combining mental health, substance abuse, and general
health care for patients, all in one setting.
The Family Wellness
Center’s comprehensive treatment planning and expertise in caring
for patients that previously required repetitive inpatient care
for chronic illness are helping them remain independent and avoid
hospitalization.
“We really work together and intensively with our
patients. We truly have a chance to get to know them and help
them,” stated Dr. Francis Hayden, Director, Wellness Psychiatry. |
The Wellness Center now provides 15,000 clinical visits annually.
At the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP),
more than 7,000 mental health emergencies in adults and children
are treated annually.
Well trained, multi-disciplinary staff address
urgent and emergent problems that include not only the stabilization
of patients with known mental illness, but also the provision
of vital support to help children stay in school and adults remain
in the work force, as well as fulfill duties as parents.
“Our CPEP is
providing us with increased opportunities to address, stabilize, and
potentially resolve family and crisis situations, a key factor in the
treatment of mental health problems,” stated Raymond Esteves,
Assistant Vice President, Clinical Services, Psychiatry. A crucial
service offered by the CPEP is the Mobile Crisis team. Its staff
visits patients in their homes and provides intensive evaluations of
urgent clinical problems, as well as arranges follow-up care.
Bronx-Lebanon’s Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is
the largest provider in New York State of the Child and Family
Clinic Plus Program. This program, sponsored by the New York
State Office of Mental Health, in conjunction with the New York
City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the New York
City Department of Education, aims to screen children in schools
for undiagnosed mental health problems, as well as work with
schools, children, and families to intervene, before symptoms
interfere with functioning. It has screened more than 1,300
children, with 439 referred for treatment to the hospital’s Child
Study Center. Ultimately, 10,000 students in the Bronx will be
screened, with school and parental involvement. |
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