Resources for the Mental Health
& Long Term Care Professional
Page Three



 


Buy It!

Health Behavior Change: A Guide for Practitioners
by Stephen Rollnick, Chris Butler, Pip Mason

Paperback: 225 pages 11th edition (June 15, 1999)
Churchill Livingstone;
ISBN: 0443058504

                            The book presents a method that will assist health professionals in helping their patients make decisions about health behavior change in the hospital and community settings. Applicable to any behavior, including over-eating, physical inactivity, smoking, diabetes, and heart disease.

 

 


Buy It!

The Behavioral Medicine Treatment Planner
Douglas E. Degood, Angela L. Crawford, Arthur E., Jr. Jongsma

Paperback (May 26, 1999)
John Wiley & Sons;
ISBN: 0471319236

                           An excellent resource for developing goals, behavioral objectives and specific interventions for 23 different medical conditions that respond to behavioral approaches. Detailed treatment interventions are provided for acute pain, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, COPD, chronic pain, smoking, diabetes, MS, obesity and others.

 

 



little-bk.gif (1607 bytes)
Buy It!

The Behavioral Medicine Treatment Planner
(Practice Planners)

Douglas E. Degood, Angela L. Crawford, Arthur E., Jr. Jongsma
 
BK&TAPE2.gif (1705 bytes) Paperback with Diskette: 225 pages
John Wiley & Sons; Book and Disk edition (June 1999)
ISBN: 0471319260

                          
                          An excellent resource for developing goals, behavioral objectives and specific interventions for 23 different medical conditions that respond to behavioral approaches. Detailed treatment interventions are provided for acute pain, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, COPD, chronic pain, smoking, diabetes, MS, obesity and others.

 

 


Buy It!

International Classification of Diseases - 9th Edition
2 Volumes in 1 : Millennium Edition
American Medical Association

Paperback Indexed edition (October 1999)
Practice Management Information Corporation;
ISBN: 1570661502
 

 


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Give Sorrow Words: Perspectives on Loss and Trauma
John H. Harvey

Paperback: 224 pages  Brunner-Routledge; 1 edition (June 21, 2000)
ISBN: 1583910085
(Hardcover: 224 pages  - ISBN: 1583910077 )

                           This new text provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of loss and defines key concepts. Addresses different types of loss, such as loss of loved ones, loss by divorce, loss due to violence, genocide, disease and accidents, and homelessness and unemployment. For clinicians and students. Students of sociology, theology, and family studies will find this text of key interest.

 

 



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Practitioner's Guide to Empirically Based Measures of Anxiety (AABT Clinical Assessment)
Martin M. Antony (Editor), Susan M. Orsillo (Editor), Lizabeth Roemer (Editor), Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy

Spiral-bound: 508 pages
Plenum Pub Corp; Spiral edition (August 2001)
ISBN: 0306465825


                            This volume provides a single resource that contains information on almost all of the measures that have demonstrated usefulness in measuring the presence and severity of anxiety and related disorders. Includes reviews of more than 200 instruments for measuring anxiety-related constructs in adults, summarized in `quick view grids' which clinicians will find invaluable. For practitioners who wish to make their assessment practices more systematic and want to have assessment devices readily available.

 

 


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Practitioner's Guide to Empirically Based Measures of Depression
Arthur M. Nezu (Editor), George F. Ronan (Editor), Elizabeth A. Meadows (Editor), Kelly S. McClure

Spiral-bound: 353 pages   Plenum Pr; 1st edition (August 15, 2000)
ISBN: 030646246X


                            This first volume in a series of clinical assessment handbooks guides clinicians and researchers in choosing practical tools relevant for clinical assessment, intervention, and/or research in this area. `Quick view grids' provide a rapid method of identifying and comparing potentially useful measures. A valuable resource to practicing clinicians and to researchers who wish to develop state-of-the-science assessment strategies for clinical problems and to make informed choices about which devices best suit their purposes.

 

 

bk11d.gif (3470 bytes)
Buy It!

Essential Spanish for Healthcare
American Medical Association

Book Only edition 
Random House  ISBN: 0609801384

                            A necessary tool designed specifically for those working with Spanish-speaking clients in the healthcare setting. Includes 2,500 essential words and phrases, phonetic transcriptions, phrases for common situations, and pronunciation guide enabling you to speak Spanish immediately. Organized by situation.

Also Available: Essential Spanish for Healthcare book/cassette package, which includes this manual, along with two cassettes and a quick reference guide. (See below)

 

 

bk11d.gif (3470 bytes)
Buy It!

Essential Spanish for Healthcare: A Quick, Easy-To-Use Program for: Nurses, Doctors, Clinic and Hospital Administrators, Ems Personnel and Home Healthcare Workers
by Miguel Bedolla

BK&TAPE2.gif (1705 bytes) Audio Cassette & Book edition (October 1997)
Random House (Audio); ISBN: 0609600893


                            This program has everything you need to communicate immediately and effectively, including a phrasebook, two cassettes, and a quick reference guide The two 90-minute cassettes can be used to improve your conversation and comprehension skills - while you're in the car, exercising, or at home. The reference guide fits in your pocket and contains the most important words and expressions you'll need on the job.

 
 

Resources for the Mental Health & Long Term Care Professional
Page Three


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Your Partner for Meeting the
Mental Health Needs of the Elderly

Welcome.

On these pages, you will learn more about our clinical programs and the delivery of quality mental health and behavioral health care to older adults. We encourage you to peruse the following pages. This will help you to develop an appreciation for our standards and ethical guidelines, and for the ways we conduct our business.
If you are looking for quality, convenience and professionalism in your mental health provider, Vericare wants to partner with you.

Our plans for this year will bring us into other states. If you are a facility, or if you are a part of a chain that is located in a state other than where we are currently working, please let us know of your interest. There may be an opportunity for contracting with you, and we would like to discuss this possibility with you


 

WHY YOU NEED A MENTAL HEALTH AND
BEHAVIOR MEDICINE SERVICES PARTNER


Many caregivers have always believed that the elderly have special mental health requirements. New evidence confirms those beliefs, and new regulations have made the issues more urgent.
  • 40% of nursing home residents exhibit symptoms of depression.
  • Among the 2/3’s of nursing home residents with a mental disorder, fewer than 5% receive treatment.
  • 40% of dementia patients have additional psychiatric symptoms.
  • Depression in nursing home residents is associated with increased staff care time.
  • Government regulations demand more emphasis on therapy and discourage reliance on psychotropic medication or physical restraint.
Additionally, as of January 2002, Medicare has formally recognized the value of psychological services provided to individuals in recovery or management of medical conditions. On the basis of a medical disorder only, older adults may now get behavior medicine assessment and treatment services to aid in the prevention, treatment, or management of acute or chronic medical disorders.

Referrals are made by the primary care physician, facility staff, family member, or are self-referred by the resident

The Challenge of Meeting Mental Health and Behavior Medicine Needs

Despite the need and genuine concerns among nursing home administrators, it has not been easy to provide this care for residents. Some of the practical questions have been:
  • How do you know when mental health and behavior medicine care is needed?
  • What steps must be taken to obtain resident and family agreement?
  • Can adequate reimbursement be obtained?
  • Which provider should you recommend?

A Solution at No Cost to Your Facility

Vericare was formed to make high quality mental health care a routine and convenient adjunct to your current programs. All of the services we provide are paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, private carriers or by the resident, with no cost to your facility. We furnish the administrative help you need to set up and operate a mental health and behavioral health services program.

Our Providers will become part of your treatment team, provide input for your care plans and develop a collaborative relationship with physicians and ancillary service providers.

These services are covered by most insurance payers, including:

Medicare
Medicaid/MediCal

Managed Care
Private Insurance

GETTING STARTED


If you are looking for quality, convenience and professionalism in your mental health provider, VeriCare wants to partner with you.


Putting our program into your facility is as simple as a phone call. We will contact you and help you assess your needs. If you select us as your facility’s mental and behavioral health service provider, our local staff will take care of the details.

Please let us show you how simple it can be to add our services to your facility.    
Inquire

THE Vericare PROGRAM

The services we provide are based on the needs of your residents. Our providers are all licensed and thus qualified to administer evaluations to help determine the best treatment plan for the individual resident. In addition to these initial evaluations, treatment alternatives include:
  • Individual psychotherapy for residents who can participate in and benefit from a one-on-one format, improving coping and adjustment skills, enhancing quality of life and provides insights into the resident’s special needs
  • Group therapy which offers the benefits of interaction, socialization and peer support
  • Family therapy to help family members deal with the feelings generated by placing a loved one in the care of others, such as helplessness, guilt or frustration, and to develop problem solving skills
  • Family support groups providing a forum for ongoing support and problem resolution for family members
  • Specialized programs to individualize the mental health and behavioral health
    needs of your residents. These programs provide comprehensive assessment and interventions for dementia patients, geared to their functional ability, with less reliance on medication or restraint, and assists the treatment team with residents who are not progressing in their rehabilitation
  • Residential services developed for assisted, independent living and other residential settings for the elderly
THE BENEFITS Vericare OFFERS YOUR FACILITY
Although current information and changing laws make programs like ours virtually mandatory, we believe the positive benefits are even more significant.


Your residents benefit from

  • improved mental functioning and increased sense of well-being;
  • reduced anxiety and fearfulness;
  • better adjustment to a new lifestyle and reduced functioning – medical evidence even implies that reducing depression can improve outlooks for physical illnesses and extend longevity in the case of terminal conditions.

Your staff members benefit since

  • residents will be easier to treat; untreated residents add to the burden of care;
  • problem behaviors can be reduced or better controlled, especially among those residents with advanced dementia, often with fewer restraints; they develop more effective communication approaches to enhance their caregiving;
  • employee morale increases due to increased knowledge and effectiveness in dealing with mental health issues.

Your facility benefits from

  • better positioning to comply with OBRA regulations and other licensing requirements affecting psychoactive medications and behavioral interventions;
  • gaining an important marketing advantage for attracting new residents;
  • comprehensive programs at no cost to your facility.

A COMPARISON OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

When comparing mental health services, asking these questions will help you in your search. Vericare is large enough to change an industry, yet personal enough to fit into your facility. These standards reflect our attention to quality resident care, and our dedication to meeting the needs and expectations of your facility.

DOES THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER:
Have a mission statement that emphasizes quality of care and customer service?
Have a management structure that emphasizes ethics and regulations?
Have long term care as 100% of their focus?
Employ LICENSED Providers and provide you with current license/malpractice information on their providers?
Offer specialized service tracks like Behavior Management and Rehabilitation as well as AIMS testing?
Offer inservice training and specialized consulting as an integral part of their program?
Conduct an extensive orientation with the provider before placement into your facility?
Provide APA-approved continuing education for their psychologist providers on a bimonthly basis and provide updates, current articles, and documentation essentials through monthly mailings?
Review cases, programs, and facility needs every quarter with your IDT?
Conduct an ongoing concurrent and retrospective quality review process utilizing a full time QM Director?
Have a Regional Psychologist/Director with long-term care experience responsible for hiring, training, evaluating, and overseeing the provider and program quality?
Employ Program Coordinators with long term care experience whose priority is to ensure a smooth, "user friendly" program?
Assure you through a check and balance system that residents are not seen without a physician order?
Provide an organized intake process that insures the resident's and/or responsible party's consent to receive treatment and to bill before any services are provided?
Document service delivery to facilitate your care planning process and revenue enhancement?
Provide an inservice on the interface between the MDS and Quality Indicators and psychological functioning?
Have separate professional corporations that can employ and place psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to assist with medical consultation and work alongside the mental and behavioral health providers?

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

How Our Customers Rate Vericare:


90%  Agree our services are helpful in
improving the resident’s quality of life.

94%  Agree that our documentation is
easily integrated into their care plans.
Customer satisfaction reflects our attention to quality resident care, and our dedication to meeting the needs and expectations of your facility.
90%  Report our providers demonstrate an understanding of OBRA and state regulations.
98%  Rate the provider as professional in demeanor.
87%  Feel our services are helpful in reducing the staff’s burden of care.
94%  Agree our providers build strong relationships with the facility’s staff.
QUALITY – Vericare improves the quality of life of residents and reduces the burden of care for staff
TEAMWORK – Vericare works closely with the IDT for integrated service delivery
COMMUNICATION – throughout the treatment planning and documentation process

UNIQUE Vericare FEATURES THAT ILLUSTRATE
OUR PROGRAMS IN ACTION:

 


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