UltraGroup Healthcare News
News & Inspiration | Aug 2026
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Suicide Prevention Month
September 1st kicks off Suicide Prevention Month, and for PMC, this work is deeply connected to who we are and why we show up every day.
Across our programs and services, we care for people who may be carrying grief, isolation, trauma, hopelessness, substance use concerns, serious mental illness, or thoughts of self-harm. We also support families and communities who are trying to recognize warning signs and respond with compassion, urgency, and skill. That work matters.
The most recent CDC data reminds us why it matters (https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/data/index.html). In 2024, suicide was responsible for 48,824 deaths in the United States. The number of people affected by suicidal thoughts and behavior is even larger: an estimated 14.3 million adults seriously thought about suicide; 4.6 million made a suicide plan, and 2.2 million attempted suicide.
These numbers are sobering, but they are not hopeless. Suicide prevention is possible. Connection matters. Evidence-based care matters. Asking directly about suicide matters. Safety planning matters. Reducing access to lethal means matters. Following up after a crisis matters. And the steady, human work each of you does with patients, families, and communities matters.
As a reminder, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7/365 by call, text, or chat for anyone experiencing emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, substance use concerns, or concern for someone else. It is free, confidential, and available at 988 or https://988lifeline.org.
A few years ago, I recorded a 10-minute video for PMC/ITP team members who may not be clinicians but wanted practical guidance on how to recognize when someone may be at risk for suicide and how to respond in the moment. You are welcome to share it with anyone who may benefit from clear, simple steps to help keep someone safe: https://vimeo.com/745134325
Throughout this month, I look forward to continuing this conversation together. If there is a topic, resource, patient safety practice, community need, or team story you would like me to highlight, please send it my way.
Thank you for the care, steadiness, and hope you bring to this work every day.
Stephanie Weatherly, DNP, PMH RN-BC, FACHEChief Clinical OfficerPsychiatric Medical Care
Recognition for Academic Pursuits
HINTON, W.Va. – Jessica Meadows-Harbert never expected to build a career in healthcare. Today, she is an RN, director of the Summers County ARH Hospital Senior Care Program and a student pursuing a master’s degree to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Her path into healthcare began with CNA training after high school. She quickly discovered a passion for caring for others and went on to build a career spanning long-term care, acute care, emergency services and skilled nursing.
In September 2023, Meadows-Harbert returned to Summers County ARH to help rebuild its Senior Care Program. The program serves Medicare-age and Medicare-eligible residents experiencing depression related to challenges such as loss, loneliness and health concerns. Through individual, group and family therapy, the six- to 12-week program helps patients regain stability and improve their quality of life.
The program has since grown to its maximum of 12 patients. However, the shortage of mental health providers in the region highlighted the need for additional psychiatric resources.
That need helped motivate Meadows-Harbert to continue her education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2025 and is pursuing her master’s degree, which she expects to complete in 2027.
“I felt a sense of responsibility to make sure Hinton always has a mental health provider and that this program will always have someone to lead it,” she said.
Her commitment to professional growth recently earned her an ARH EDcellence Award, recognizing employees who demonstrate outstanding dedication to education, professional development and personal growth.
Meadows-Harbert hopes her journey encourages others to pursue new opportunities, even when they lead somewhere unexpected.
“If you don’t start, you’ll never finish,” she said.
And while healthcare became her career, Meadows-Harbert still enjoys her original interest in food as owner of the BakeHouse, a cottage bakery she operates on the side.
Lunch & Learn Highlights Healthy Communication
Salem Township Hospital’s July Lunch & Learn focused on the connection between communication, boundaries and emotional wellness.
Mary Hammond, Director of Senior Behavioral Health, along with team members Beth Smith and Julie Graumenz, shared practical strategies for improving communication and strengthening relationships. The presentation explored three common communication styles—passive, assertive and aggressive—and emphasized the benefits of communicating calmly, directly and respectfully.
The team also discussed the importance of setting healthy boundaries to protect time, energy and emotional well-being. Participants learned that difficulty setting boundaries, avoiding conversations or constantly putting others first can contribute to stress, anxiety, resentment and feelings of isolation.
A key message from the presentation was that healthy communication supports emotional wellness. Learning to express needs, speak up respectfully and establish appropriate boundaries can build confidence, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen connections with others.
Salem Township Hospital’s Outpatient Care Coordinators organize the free Lunch & Learn series each month to provide health education to hospital employees and members of the community.
Patients in the New Beginnings Program surprised Beth, Julie, and Mary with creative personalized certificates recognizing the care and support they received while in our program.
Adapting to Change in Behavioral Health IOP Settings
As we approach our upcoming season of form and policy changes, I wanted to shed some light on the importance, and often the difficulty, of adapting to changes in established processes. While consistency can create a well-oiled machine and streamline workflow, change is often necessary to help us evolve, improve our processes, and ultimately enhance patient care.
Change can be challenging in behavioral health care, especially in Intensive Outpatient Programs where teams are already balancing patient care, documentation demands, staffing needs, and regulatory expectations. However, adapting to change is no longer optional. It is essential for programs that want to remain clinically effective, compliant, and responsive to the needs of the patients they serve.
Behavioral health IOPs are operating in an environment that continues to evolve. Patients often present with more complex needs, including co-occurring medical concerns, cognitive changes, social barriers, and higher levels of emotional distress. At the same time, regulatory and payer expectations continue to place greater emphasis on individualized treatment, measurable progress, active physician involvement, and clear documentation of medical necessity. Programs that do not adjust risk falling behind both clinically and operationally.
The need for change is not about replacing the meaningful work already being done. It is about ensuring that care delivery, documentation, and program structure continue to meet current expectations. A group schedule, treatment planning process, or documentation habit that once felt sufficient may need to be refined as standards become more specific and patient needs become more complex. When programs adapt, they are better able to show the value of the care being provided and protect the long-term stability of the service.
Adopting new models and strengthening compliance efforts also supports the patient experience. When treatment is clearly individualized, progress is reviewed consistently, and the team is aligned around the patient’s goals, care becomes more purposeful. Patients benefit when programs are organized, responsive, and able to adjust treatment based on progress, barriers, and changing clinical needs.
Change can feel uncomfortable because it often asks teams to question familiar routines. Yet discomfort does not mean the change is unnecessary. In many cases, it signals that the program is growing into a stronger, more accountable version of itself. The goal is not to change for the sake of change, but to ensure that the program remains prepared, relevant, and capable of meeting both clinical and regulatory demands.
For behavioral health IOPs, adapting to change is ultimately about sustainability. Programs that embrace thoughtful improvement are better positioned to serve patients, support staff, meet compliance expectations, and demonstrate the importance of the care they provide. In a field where needs continue to shift, the ability to adapt is one of the clearest signs of a strong and healthy program.
Carlinville Area Hospital Welcomes New Employees
Welcome, Brandee!
Please join us in welcoming Brandee to the Behavioral Health and Senior Behavioral Health teams as our new Behavioral Health Unit Clerk.
Brandee brings more than six years of experience with Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics, having previously worked in Health Information Management and the Business Office, where she gained extensive experience with Medicare and Medicare Advantage billing. She looks forward to bringing that experience to her new role and supporting the Behavioral Health teams.
Outside of work, Brandee enjoys spending time with her husband, Jacob, their daughter, Madalynn, and their three dogs. She also enjoys attending concerts, Jeep road trips and caring for her growing collection of plants.
Welcome to the team, Brandee!
Welcome, Becky!
Please join us in welcoming Becky Foiles, LCSW, to her new role as Manager of Care Coordination and Behavioral Health.
Becky has been part of the Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics team for more than four years, previously serving as Manager of Case Management. Before joining the hospital, she spent 12 years with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as an Intact Family Services Case Manager.
Her background in child welfare and healthcare has fueled her passion for connecting individuals and families with resources and improving access to care. In her new role, Becky looks forward to expanding her work in behavioral health and strengthening support for patients and families throughout the community.
Outside of work, Becky enjoys spending time with her husband, seven children and grandson, as well as life on the family farm.
Welcome to your new role, Becky!
