UltraGroup Healthcare News
- Aug 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 5
News & Inspiration | July 2026
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Welcome to Senior Perspectives, Monica!
Please join us in welcoming Monica Johnson to the Senior Perspectives team at The Med Center Scottsville as our new Program Nurse! Monica has been a nurse since 2003 and brings more than two decades of experience and compassion to her role. She is the proud mother of two sons and enjoys traveling, learning new things, and reading in her free time. Monica is excited to work with the older adult population and looks forward to making a positive impact on the lives of our participants and their families.
We're thrilled to have Monica on our team. Welcome, Monica!
Andy Tanaro Engages the Crowd at The Med Center Adult Day
Andy Tanaro with Senior Perspectives at Franklin and Scottsville wowed the crowd during a visit to The Med Center Adult Day with her singing and interactive performance. Participants joined in, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for everyone.
In addition to the entertainment, Andy and KenYatta Williams shared information about the Senior Perspectives program, highlighting the many ways it benefits older adults by providing compassionate care, support, and resources to enhance their mental and emotional well-being.
It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with participants, spread awareness about Senior Perspectives, and enjoy an afternoon filled with music, smiles, and meaningful conversation.
Welcoming Our Newest Senior Life Services Team – Amberwell Atchison
We are excited to officially welcome the dedicated team at Senior Life Services at Amberwell Atchison in Atchison, Kansas, which opened its doors in May of this year! This new program brings much-needed outpatient behavioral health services to older adults throughout the communities Amberwell serves.
Together, they are committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care that helps older adults improve their mental health, maintain independence, and enhance their overall quality of life.
Please join us in welcoming Michelle, Kendra, and Abby as they continue building this exciting new program. We are grateful for their passion, dedication, and enthusiasm as they expand access to vital behavioral health services for the Atchison community. We look forward to watching Senior Life Services at Amberwell Atchison grow and make a lasting impact!
Beyond the Program: How Senior Behavioral Health IOP Teams Strengthen Rural Hospital Care
In rural healthcare, every department plays a vital role in ensuring patients receive the care they need close to home. For Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), behavioral
health services are often among the most valuable—and limited—resources available. While Senior Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) are designed to provide structured treatment for older adults experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, and other behavioral health conditions, their impact can extend far beyond the walls of the program itself.
When time and clinical responsibilities allow, Senior Behavioral Health IOP staff have a unique opportunity to support colleagues across the hospital through education, collaboration, and behavioral health consultation. These interactions not only improve patient care but also strengthen the visibility and value of the behavioral health program throughout the organization.
Building a Behavioral Health Culture Across the Hospital
Behavioral health concerns rarely present in only one department. Patients experiencing anxiety, depression, delirium, dementia-related behaviors, substance use, suicidal ideation, or emotional distress may first present in the Emergency Department, Medical-Surgical Unit, Swing Bed, Primary Care Clinic, Rehabilitation Services, or even outpatient specialty clinics.
Although these patients may not ultimately require or qualify for Senior Behavioral Health IOP services, behavioral health professionals possess expertise that can benefit the entire care team.
Examples of collaboration include:
Offering guidance on de-escalation strategies for patients experiencing emotional or behavioral distress.
Assisting nursing staff in understanding behavioral symptoms associated with aging, cognitive impairment, or psychiatric illness.
Helping identify appropriate behavioral health resources and levels of care.
Providing education on trauma-informed communication and patient-centered approaches.
Collaborating with providers during complex discharge planning involving behavioral health concerns.
These moments of consultation do not require formal psychiatric consultation services. Rather, they represent interdisciplinary teamwork that supports safe, compassionate patient care while fostering confidence among hospital staff.
Education Creates Confidence
One of the greatest barriers to behavioral health care in rural settings is not simply access—it is comfort and confidence among healthcare professionals in addressing behavioral health concerns.
Senior Behavioral Health IOP teams can serve as valuable educational partners by providing brief in-service education sessions, sharing evidence-based resources, or offering practical guidance during routine interdisciplinary meetings.
Topics might include:
Recognizing depression in older adults.
Differentiating dementia, delirium, and depression.
Suicide risk factors in older populations.
Effective communication during behavioral crises.
Managing anxiety in hospitalized patients.
Understanding when referral to outpatient behavioral health services is appropriate.
These educational efforts help create a workforce that is more prepared to recognize behavioral health needs early and respond appropriately.
Collaboration Benefits Everyone
Supporting other departments should never come at the expense of caring for patients enrolled in the Senior Behavioral Health IOP. Program participants remain the team's primary responsibility.
However, during periods when clinical workload allows, being available as a collaborative resource can provide meaningful benefits across the organization.
Interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to:
Earlier identification of behavioral health concerns.
Improved coordination of care across departments.
Increased staff confidence managing behavioral health presentations.
More appropriate referrals to behavioral health services.
Improved patient and family satisfaction.
Reduced stigma surrounding mental health treatment.
These interactions strengthen relationships between departments and reinforce that behavioral health is everyone's responsibility—not just the responsibility of one program.
Growing the Program Through Relationships
Program growth is often associated with marketing and physician outreach, but some of the strongest referral relationships are built internally.
When Emergency Department staff understand the services available through Senior Behavioral Health IOP, they are more likely to recognize appropriate referral opportunities. When inpatient nurses have confidence in the program, they become advocates for patients who may benefit after discharge. When primary care providers understand admission criteria and treatment outcomes, they are more comfortable recommending the program.
Consistent collaboration helps hospital staff become familiar with:
The patient populations served.
Admission criteria.
Expected treatment outcomes.
Available community resources.
Appropriate referral processes.
Over time, this awareness naturally increases appropriate referrals while ensuring patients receive care at the right level and at the right time.
Importantly, not every consultation will result in an admission—and that is perfectly acceptable. The goal is not to increase census through unnecessary referrals but to ensure patients receive the most appropriate behavioral health support available. Providing value to the organization builds credibility, and credibility builds sustainable referral relationships.
Supporting the Mission of Rural Healthcare
Critical Access Hospitals often serve communities where behavioral health resources are scarce and travel distances are significant. Every opportunity to strengthen behavioral health knowledge within the hospital contributes to better patient outcomes and supports the hospital's mission to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care close to home.
Senior Behavioral Health IOP teams are uniquely positioned to serve as clinical experts, educators, and collaborative partners. By sharing their expertise when time allows—without compromising their own program responsibilities—they help create a hospital environment where behavioral health is recognized as an essential component of whole-person care.
In rural healthcare, collaboration is more than teamwork—it is a strategy for expanding access, improving quality, and ensuring every patient receives compassionate, coordinated care.
References
American Hospital Association. (2019). Behavioral Health Integration. https://www.aha.org
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2019). Integration Playbook. https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2023). Behavioral Health Integration. https://www.samhsa.gov
World Health Organization. (2021). Guidance on Community Mental Health Services: Promoting Person-Centred and Rights-Based Approaches. https://www.who.int/publications
Reiss-Brennan, B., Brunisholz, K., Dredge, C., et al. (2016). Association of Integrated Team-Based Care with Health Care Quality, Utilization, and Cost. JAMA, 316(8), 826–834.
Peek, C. J., National Integration Academy Council. (2013). Lexicon for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
