Alma’s Post

QI makes a difference... Quality improvement in mental health settings plays a crucial role in enhancing patient outcomes and ensuring effective, compassionate care. Here are key aspects to consider: - Implementing evidence-based practices to uphold the highest standards of care. - Emphasizing patient-centered care by involving patients in treatment plans and addressing their unique needs. - Providing continuous training for staff to stay updated on the latest mental health practices. - Embracing data-driven decision-making to identify improvement areas and measure intervention effectiveness. - Promoting integrated care by fostering collaboration among healthcare providers. Focusing on these areas can lead to significant improvements in care quality, patient outcomes, and system efficiency in mental health settings.

We need more transparency in Mental Health. With so many options, it has become incredibly difficult for a patient to choose which practice is best for them. And, unless you’re a VC with data room access, you have no idea how much good (or harm) these practices are having on their patients. That’s messed up! Why should patients be left in the dark when choosing their therapist? In the spirit of transparency, just as health plans are required to report publicly available HEDIS measures, I would be keen to see publicly available metrics from these Mental Health practices, as well. Depending on where the startup is in their lifecycle, patient outcomes may not be readily available. That’s fine. However every Series A company should have a board deck, and that board deck should include basic healthcare metrics. For example, given the nationwide mental health shortage, I’d be curious to see provider utilization metrics. Are these practices truly helping with the mental health crisis, or are they making it worse by sitting on 500 clinicians with a 50% utilization? What even is the “optimal caseload” for a therapist? I think all parties involved—including therapists— would benefit from publicly-available, standardized caseload metrics. More on this in my next post…

Thanks Byron Crowe for this thoughtful piece on how we can reach more people in need through personalized digital mental health programs.

Mental Health America (mhanational.org) hosted a survey to listen to the experiences of healthcare workers to create better resources to help support their mental health as they continue to provide care. The results are not surprising – our healthcare workers, while tirelessly helping others, are struggling themselves with stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and more. They feel stressed out and stretched too thin. 93% of health care workers were experiencing stress, 86% reported experiencing anxiety, 77% reported frustration, 76% reported exhaustion and burnout, and 75% said they were overwhelmed. One of the hardest results to hear is that 39% of healthcare workers said that they did not feel like they had adequate emotional support. Nurses were even less likely to have emotional support (45%). It’s imperative that we not only recognize, but support and equip our front-line workers with the needed tools to adequately do their jobs while maintaining their mental health. We encourage leaders in the healthcare field to contact us to see how we can work together to support our valued healthcare heroes. www.vistelar.com #mhanational #nationalstressawarenessday #supportforhealthcare

It’s time to work together to bridge the gap in mental health care! The findings from our recent Mental Health Index are alarming, showing that 42% of Americans still struggle with anxiety and depression symptoms. This, coupled with the ongoing shortage of mental health professionals, is affecting millions of Americans.   Our Chief Medical Officer Byron Crowe explores this in his latest article in Healthcare IT News. Read more and learn how digital mental health tools are a critical part of creating a scalable solution. 

Medical clinicians face heavy pressures and responsibilities, dealing with challenging and emotionally demanding situations. Seeking mental health support is crucial for their own quality of life and quality of patient care. The demanding nature of the profession, coupled with long hours and exposure to traumatic events, can contribute to burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion. By seeking mental health support, clinicians can effectively manage stress, prevent burnout, and maintain their overall mental well-being. It provides a confidential space for them to express concerns, process emotions, and gain coping strategies. Additionally, addressing mental health concerns early on can help prevent the development of more serious conditions. Seeking support is a proactive step toward fostering a healthy workplace culture. When clinicians prioritize their mental health, it sets a positive example for their colleagues and reduces the stigma associated with seeking help. This, in turn, contributes to a more supportive and compassionate healthcare environment. Ultimately, by addressing their mental health, medical clinicians can sustain their passion for patient care, enhance their resilience, and ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare services. Prioritizing mental well-being is not only a personal benefit but also a professional responsibility with far-reaching positive effects. Reach out today: http://soyclinic.com 289 497 4220 #mentalhealth #burnoutprevention

Good mental health is an essential part of our overall health and wellbeing, allowing us to cope with challenges, connect with others, and thrive. So on #WorldMentalHealthDay CCI wants to use our platform to challenge the stigma and discrimination associated with seeking services to address mental health challenges – especially for healthcare workers. If your mental health is currently suffering, please know that you are not alone and that you are worthy of the help you need to be your best self. CCI is in your corner. If you want to learn more about what is happening at the national-level and access resources for health worker mental health, check out the U.S. Surgeon General’s framework on Mental Health and Well-Being in the Workplace (pictured) AND the National Academy of Medicine’s National Plan for Health Workforce Well-being. UVA School of Nursing

Over the past five years, the mental healthcare landscape has transformed dramatically, with a significant focus on enhancing access to care. At Blueprint, we believe access to care is critical, but ultimately only matters if the underlying care is effective. This is where measurement-based care comes into play. Our Founder & CEO Danny Freed shared his thoughts on this topic in MedCity News. Check it out and let us know your thoughts! How do you think we can balance accessibility and quality in mental health services? #MentalHealthCare #QualityCare #MeasurementBasedCare https://lnkd.in/g5vD-q_V

🌐What's the deal with Telehealth? "Research to date shows mental health care delivered remotely—also known as telepsychology or teletherapy—is effective. Psychologists—along with psychiatrists, social workers and others—have built a substantial literature base on telehealth interventions that work for a variety of problems and populations. ...delivering care remotely allows mental health providers to reach more people, including those who are geographically isolated or lack access to child care or transportation. It can also help address stigma for patients seeking psychological services for the first time.." Book a consultation: https://lnkd.in/efcfbejN Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gPzrjM4

🩺 Mental Health & Healthcare Workers: The Silent Struggle ➡️ Behind the scrubs, white coats and stethoscopes, healthcare workers face tremendous pressures and challenges. ➡️ The silent struggle with burnout, compassion fatigue, and the emotional toll of their responsibilities can't be overlooked. ➡️ Mental health support for healthcare workers is not just an option; it's a necessity for sustainable care. This involves fostering resilience through: ✅ open conversations ✅ access to counselling services ✅ strategies to cope with the unique stresses they face ➡️ As our healthcare professionals tirelessly care for others, it's essential to help them pay attention to their mental well-being. Let’s create a healthcare environment where mental health is a priority, ensuring our heroes continue to shine bright. #HealthcareHeroes #MentalHealthMatters #Support #fyp @Lifelinewellnessconnect @ Linda C S Mwale @ChishimbeMwale @MissZowaNgwira @ Clinton Kadochi, M.D. @ Mwansa Chiyenge