Community Health: Valley Health's EmPATH Unit

As part of a community health partnership with Valley Health, in this episode of the Valley Today, Janet Michael welcomes Karen Dorr, Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Valley Health, and Amanda Dondero, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Child and Adolescent Outpatient Behavioral Health Supervisor. The group discuss the new Valley Health Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing (EmPATH) Unit at Winchester Medical Center.  The conversation centers around the purpose and function of the EmPATH unit, emphasizing its role in providing immediate care for individuals experiencing mental health crises in a therapeutic environment, rather than the general Emergency Department (ED). The discussion highlights how this new unit addresses the urgent mental health needs of patients by offering a calm and specialized space with therapists, psychiatrists, and nurses experienced in psychiatric care. Key points include the problematic nature of the ED for handling mental health crises, the legislative and financial support behind the inception of the EmPATH unit, and the significant shift of patients from the ED to the new unit. They also discuss the logistics of how patients access the EmPATH unit, the types of assessments conducted, and the coordination between inpatient and outpatient care. Karen and Janet delve into the broader community context, addressing the stigma of mental health treatment and advocating for proactive mental health care. Amanda adds insights on dealing with mental health issues in children and adolescents, underscoring the importance of early intervention and outpatient support.