Samaritan Relaunches Outpatient Mental Health Program June 4, 2021 Samaritan Health Services has reopened the partial hospitalization outpatient psychiatric program on the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center campus. The program initially launched in early 2020 and then was placed on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is located adjacent to the Samaritan Mental Health inpatient unit, which continues to serve patients who need inpatient care as part of their treatment. Samaritan’s program offers group therapy, adult education and life skills, medication management and other support for individuals who need comprehensive – but not inpatient – treatment for their mental or emotional health condition. “Patients in the partial hospitalization program can maintain their independence and meet their personal responsibilities while receiving treatment,” said James Douglas, MD, medical director for Samaritan Mental Health. “These patients spend the day in the program, but they live at home and return to the community each evening.” The program operates weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Patients can be admitted to the program by their primary care provider, mental health therapist or their local emergency department – or they can be admitted following an inpatient stay. Each cohort is limited to eight patients, due to COVID-19 precautions. It’s anticipated that future cohorts will be larger once the pandemic is over. Partial hospitalization is the latest of several Samaritan initiatives to address the mental and behavioral health needs in Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties. Other programs and services include: Behavioral health specialists embedded in primary care clinics across Samaritan’s service area. These specialists work with patients to meet their goals to live a healthy life. They help patients address mental and psychological issues that lead to health conditions like substance abuse, sleep loss, anxiety and depression. Residency training programs in psychology and adult and child psychiatry. These programs are producing new clinicians, some of whom are joining Samaritan full time after their training is complete. Location of mental health services at the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, along with Samaritan’s embedded pediatric clinic at that facility. A partnership with Benton County to offer treatment to youths 17 and under who come to the Emergency Department at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center with threats of suicide. Behavioral health nurses and specialists who see patients in the Emergency Department and hospital inpatient units at GSRMC. These nurses and specialists are trained to help patients and the medical team develop a treatment plan, and they follow up with the patient to make sure they’re succeeding on the plan. A tele-psychiatry program linking Samaritan’s mental health professionals in Corvallis with clinicians in distant communities for patients needing consultation. More information is available at samhealth.org/PHP or 541-768-4839.
