Stephens County Hospital Senior Behavioral Health Program has opened their brand new, state-of-the-art inpatient psychiatric unit in Toccoa, GA. The opening of this program at Stephens County Hospital comes after much preparation and implementation in collaboration with UltraGroup Healthcare, a behavioral health management organization based out of Chattanooga, TN. With all program staff trained, policies and procedures in place and the unit fully equipped with ligature resistant hardware, the program is well prepared to treat their first patients struggling with the challenges of mental illness. From the type of doorknobs and bathroom fixtures to the advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) clinical model, this type of program is specifically designed to address and treat the unique mental health challenges seniors face.
Aging adults experiencing a mental health crisis, whether that be suicidal ideation, active psychosis, severe changes in behavior due to their mental illness, or other crises receive a comprehensive clinical assessment to determine the appropriate level of care. Patients admitted to the program receive an individualized treatment plan developed by a multidisciplinary treatment team consisting of the psychiatrist, therapist, and nursing staff. This individualized treatment plan is implemented, and progress towards treatment goals are tracked regularly. Program staff will begin planning for discharge services at admission to ensure they have the correct support after their inpatient treatment has concluded.
The opening of this type of program is very exciting for Stephens and surrounding counties. Bringing this type of service to the community begins the process of destigmatizing mental health and allows more access to mental health treatment options. Stephens County Hospital looks forward to many more patient days in the future for the Senior Behavioral Health Program.
