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Shreveport, Louisiana: Enhancing Mental Health Services

Louisiana's mental health facility improving services for diverse communities.

News Summary

In 2021, Ochsner LSU Health and Oceans Healthcare formed a partnership to improve mental health services in Louisiana. Their initiative, the Louisiana Behavioral Health, introduces a dedicated 89-bed inpatient unit and various outpatient programs tailored for different age groups, ensuring comprehensive support. With a focus on accessibility, the facility aims to meet rising demands for mental health services amid increasing community needs.

Shreveport, Louisiana: A Brighter Future for Mental Health Services

Introduction to the Partnership

In an exciting effort to tackle mental health challenges across the Pelican State, a groundbreaking partnership emerged in 2021 between Ochsner LSU Health and Oceans Healthcare. This collaboration not only aims to expand access to mental health services throughout Louisiana but also focuses on providing care that speaks to the needs of various communities.

The Louisiana Behavioral Health Initiative

Named the Louisiana Behavioral Health, this initiative offers both inpatient and outpatient care. The project has led to the establishment of a robust 89-bed inpatient unit at the Shreveport hospital managed by Oceans Healthcare. The inpatient unit is beautifully designed with designated areas to care for adolescents aged 13 to 17, older adults aged 55 and up, and adults of all other ages. This ensures that every patient receives the tailored care they need.

Emergency Care Made Accessible

The facility serves as a crucial crisis stabilization center, ready to lend a helping hand to individuals in urgent need of mental health support. With a team of dedicated Ochsner LSU Health physicians providing expert treatment and guidance, patients have access to specialized programs that cater to diverse populations, including targeted resources for our youth and seniors.

A Range of Services to Meet Varying Needs

The offerings don’t stop there! Patients have access to partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programming, which are designed to help individuals stabilize and progress in their recovery journey. Collaboration with local hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and schools further enhances support for patients facing crises, ensuring no one is left behind.

Identifying Common Conditions

As the partnership gathers steam, it’s important to understand the mental health conditions that are most frequently addressed. For adolescents, self-harming behaviors often take center stage, while older adults frequently battle dementia-related issues. For many adults, substance use disorders remain a pressing challenge. With these concerns in mind, a comprehensive approach is crucial.

The Patient Experience

When patients arrive at the facility, they undergo a thorough assessment with a registered nurse. This evaluation covers a wide range of aspects, including their physical health, history of abuse or neglect, and mental wellness. Following this, a treatment team customizes a personalized plan based on a psychiatric evaluation, ensuring every individual receives the best possible care.

Holistic Treatments and Recreation Therapy

The treatment options are extensive! Medication management, group therapy, and family counseling are just a few common services that patients frequently access. To add a special touch, recreation therapy is integrated into the treatment process, incorporating patients’ hobbies and interests to create a more engaging and fulfilling experience during recovery.

Addressing Growing Demands

Amidst the challenges of the post-COVID-19 era, the demand for mental health services has become increasingly urgent, with rising rates of depression and anxiety highlighted across communities. The Ochsner LSU Health and Oceans Healthcare team are working diligently to expand their offerings, continually adapting to meet these evolving needs and reduce strain on emergency departments.

Access and Availability

One of the standout features of Louisiana Behavioral Health is its commitment to accessibility. The facility accepts insurance and serves as a Medicaid application site, ensuring that anyone who needs support can get it.

The Local Picture

However, the landscape isn’t perfect. In Acadiana, resources for inpatient mental health care, especially for minors, are alarmingly scarce. Only 12 out of 45 hospitals in the state accept minors for inpatient treatment. For families requiring local services, this resource gap can lead to long-distance transfers, which isn’t ideal for vulnerable youths in need of urgent care.

Community Collaboration and Future Projects

Concerned parties are taking action. The Southern Poverty Law Center is involved in ongoing efforts to improve services for Medicaid-eligible youth facing mental health crises. Emergency rooms often serve as the first point of contact for individuals in crisis, highlighting a critical need for local inpatient placements for adolescents.

Excitingly, plans for a new mental health facility partnership are underway. This future facility will include inpatient services for adolescents, adding a vital 70 beds in Broussard to alleviate some of the current pressures.

Conclusion

As Louisiana works towards developing comprehensive systems for crisis response and accessing care, the ongoing efforts of organizations like Ochsner LSU Health and Oceans Healthcare shine a hopeful light on the path before us. With collaboration and commitment, it’s clear that brighter days are ahead for mental health services statewide.