7A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

7A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Regaining Mental Health Stability in America    

Opportunity:

·       Many mental health patients do not have access to Psychiatrists that can properly diagnose and treat mental illness.

o   Who: Mental Health patients in America

o   What: Unable to get proper treatment for mental disorders

o   Why: Limited access to Psychiatrists or behavioral health institutions to receive proper treatment

·       Testing the who: Mental Health is a global issue; anyone can suffer from poor mental health

·       Testing the what: Are uninsured patients at higher risk of not receiving proper treatment, or do insured patients have the same risk?

·       Testing the why: Aside from a decrease in psychiatrists and mental health institutions, there are extremely long waiting periods for patients to get into offices and be seen. For example, at my job, there is currently a six-month waiting list for new patients. What does this mean for patients that are currently in crisis? Suicidal? Without medications? In addition, the fees to see behavioral health specialists for uninsured patients is too costly, and most can’t afford to be seen and pay for their medications.  

Interviews:

1.     For this interview, I decided to interview my Office Manager, Rachel Cook. I felt that she could offer me greater insight on the issue as she has worked in Behavioral Health for more than seven years. Based on her experience, she states that there simply aren’t enough mental health providers to meet the need in our communities; this is cause for extended waiting periods. In addition, she states that the medications alone are extremely expensive and unobtainable for uninsured patients, so most patients start to abuse alcohol and other drugs which creates a vicious cycle for the patients. Rachel hopes that the government will eventually increase funding for mental health and drug treatment facilities, as well as, make the medication affordable for all patients.

2.     For this interview, I interviewed Dr. Rhonda Cameron, who has worked in Behavioral Health for over 18 years. Like Rachel, she discusses the issue of medical students no longer seeking Psychiatry as a specialty which has led to the depletion of Psychiatrists/BH ARNP/PA. Dr. Cameron also mentions that while uninsured patients tend to be less compliant due to inability to pay for services and medications, patients with Medicaid struggle just the same because Medicaid does not cover long-term care for patients suffering from mental health. Moreover, she stated that she wished there were more pediatric behavioral specialists, because she believes tackling the problem at a young age helps the patient in the long run as they age.

3.     For this interview, I decided to interview a patient. This patient has been dealing with domestic violence issues and recently discovered her child attempted to commit suicide. While she does have health insurance, she states the waiting periods are too long or she must drive to different cities to see a physician that accepts her insurance. Unfortunately for her, all we can do is refer her to where she needs to go, and hope that she gets the care she needs to move forward in her life. She states that she feels her situation is hopeless at times, and the lack of help keeps her in an unhealthy mental state.

4.     For this interview, I interviewed a colleague. She states that her biggest issue currently is having to travel for services. Before, her primary care physician would fill her anxiety medications, but now, they are referring her to a behavioral health specialist who can’t get her in till about four months from now. She states that within a week of being off her medications, she starts feeling the symptoms of withdraws, and she doesn’t believe her body can survive a four month wait, so she travels.

5.     For this interview, I spoke with Kristin, who is an LPN in our office. Kristin offered different insight, in terms of how providers view mental health patients. She states that some providers aren’t as compassionate or understanding as before. She believes this is due to the major drug problem in America; providers are having a hard time distinguishing which patient really needs the drugs and which patients have an addiction problem. She states that some providers will not prescribe medications if they do not believe patient really needs it. This leads me to question the number of patients that go untreated because of provider assumption.

Given your interviews, what do you know about the opportunity that you didn’t know before?

• ·       After completing the interviews, I must admit that I am shocked at the results. I always thought waiting lists were long because the need was great, but I didn’t consider the depletion of physicians that see the patients; truly makes me wonder what changed. In addition, it baffles me that patients dealing with crisis or withdrawals must wait more than just a couple of weeks to be seen, even if they were previously baker-acted. Even so, travel long distances to be seen. For some patients, seeking help and getting treatment is a matter of life and death. This study just further confirms the opportunity available and the need for government officials to step up and increase the funding to service our people.