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51 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2018 2018 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 51 XX Doing Business in Connecticut | 2018 SPONSORED REPORT patients to work toward being able to complete these activities on their own. In-House Medical Care if Needed Being housed within a hospital benefits behavioral health patients of all ages. This is especially true for geriatric patients who tend to be less mobile and independent. The advantage for geriatric patients is even more evident in the medical personnel assigned to the geriatric behavioral unit, as they have training and experience specific to older adults. Having medical personnel on-site means that the integration of care is easier to manage. Plus, Integrated Electronic Medical Records (EMR's) guarantee that all personnel assigned to the care of every patient have the details and facts right at their fingertips. Post Discharge Continuum of Care Once patients leave the geriatric unit, maintaining post-discharge care can seem like an especially daunting proposition for families and/or caregivers. ECHN's Visiting Nurses & Health Services of Connecticut serves as outpatient care providers and coordinators for patients of Manchester Memorial Hospital, Rockville General Hospital, and ECHN's Primary Care Physicians and Specialists. Visiting nurses work with discharged patients to ensure that they continue taking medications and following regimens Geriatric Behavioral Care Center Approach The Team Approach The behavioral team for each patient is uniquely tailored to their specific needs and treatment goals. The overall team includes: • Geriatric Psychiatrists • Nurse Practitioners • Registered Nurses • Internal Medicine Physicians • Licensed Social Workers • Licensed Occupational Therapists • Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants In fact, many of the staff have worked in nursing homes and have had first- hand experience working with geriatric patients even before setting foot in the ECHN facility. Another crucial part of the team is the family or caregiver(s). All efforts are made to include their input and contribution to the recovery of their loved one. Having family and/or caregivers be a part of the treatment and discharge team makes for a more successful continuation of recovery once the patient leaves ECHN. Occupational Therapy ECHN providers identify the activities that are crucial to each patient's everyday life. They assess the patient's ability to accomplish those tasks and provide therapeutic measures that allow the prescribed by hospital providers. This allows for a more effective continuum of care long after patients have finished their in-patient treatment, leading to better outcomes and fewer re-hospitalizations. ECHN responded to the community's need for a Geriatric Behavioral Health unit with a seven-figure investment that included renovating space at Manchester Memorial Hospital and rebuilding it specifically for this population of patients. 14.5 % OF ADULTS 50+ HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS OF THOSE, ONLY 46.8 % RECEIVED TREATMENT "ECHN continues to grow its behavioral health offerings and expand to patients across many afflictions and ages." SOURCE: www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml ECHN…Making it Work for the Community The health needs of the community are always changing. It's up to local health providers to respond. ECHN's significant investments in behavioral health have created a brighter future with more hope for our patients. "As the demand continues to increase, we are finding that it is becoming more and more challenging every day to find beds for patients in need," added Qureshi. "This is one of the reasons that ECHN continues to grow its behavioral health offerings and expand to patients across many afflictions and ages." SPONSOR REPORT