Mental Health Statistics
26% of adults in the US have one or more diagnosable mental health disorders.
Average age of most diagnosed conditions is 14.
6% of US population are disabled by a mental condition or are seriously mentally ill.
Source: The National Institutes of Mental Health, a division of National Institute of Health
At Primary Care Solutions, we recognize mental health as an important part of overall health. Just like physical conditions, mental health requires diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Our mental health program is part of our disease management program which aims to help patients live safe and healthy lives in their own homes.
PCS can support the treatment of individuals and help them and their families live with, and in many cases recover from a mental illness. Our qualified psychiatric nurses, counselors, and social workers work with mental health professionals including psychiatrists and psychologists to create a home care plan supporting an individual’s treatment and management of daily life. The individualized care plan will address the needs of the patient in order to maintain a safe and healthy life at home.
Our Treatment Process
Proper Diagnosis
Diagnosis is at the core of effective mental health management. Many people who have mental health conditions think their signs and symptoms are a normal part of life –such as reacting to a death or an illness, or they don’t see a doctor or mental health professional out of shame or fear. Seeing a family doctor, or making an appointment with a counselor or psychologist offers an assessment to see if the behaviors or feelings are really a mental health condition. We work closely with doctors to ensure the patients are properly diagnosed and appropriate treatment is being given.
After proper diagnosis, we work with physicians and case managers to create a care plan that best meets the client’s needs.
Medication
Medication plays a major role in managing and treatment of mental health disorders. At PCS, our comprehensive medication management program is designed to help patients at various levels. Some patients may require only reminders while others may need a lockbox system to administer their medications. In addition to administering medications, we provide teaching to patients and their caregivers on various topics including drug safety, side effects, diet, etc.
Monitoring/Assessment
We provide ongoing monitoring of patients on a regular basis. Depending on the need, this can be done as many as two times a day or once a month. During each visit, we monitor the patient’s mood and assess the effectiveness of medications. We also assess social factors that may affect the patient’s mental health. We share our findings with the physicians on an ongoing basis. We make adjustments to the care plan regularly to reflect the changes in the patient’s status.