Behavioral Health Advisory Council
Members of the Behavioral Health Advisory Council work in partnership with health care professionals in the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior. The Advisors draw on their personal experiences to assist in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of the Department's care environments, which include the Stoney Building outpatient clinic, the 3 South and 9 North inpatient units, and the psychiatry suite of the Emergency Department. In addition, our Advisors coordinate and assist with the two Consumer Advisory Councils at our partner institution, East Central Georgia Regional Hospital.
Behavioral Health Advisory Council
Selected Activities and Accomplishments
- Recommendations for expanded visiting hours for both the adult/geriatric and child and adolescent psychiatric units
- Adoption of recommendations for cell phone usage by visitors on child and adolescent psychiatric unit
- Recommendations for decor of "time-out" rooms on child and adolescent psychiatric unit
- Input regarding confidentiality issues surrounding Televox automated outpatient appointment reminder calls resulting written permission
- Recommendations for format and content of new patient information for psychiatric inpatient units
- Review of the activity schedules for psychiatric inpatient units
- Development of a child and adolescent advisory group
- Achieved hospital policy change for psychiatric patient advisors to identify themselves as past patients during fund raising and awareness raising events
- Consultation and recommendations concerning renovations to outpatient clinic (Stoney Building) and renovations of the inpatient units
- Consultation and recommendations concerning renovations of the Emergency Department including the design of a dedicated suite for psychiatric patients
- Introduced a Georgia artist who is diagnosed with schizophrenia to artwork selection committee, resulting in the purchase of several paintings and prints for the medical center
- Consultation and recommendations on fast track process for admission to inpatient unit of patients seen in Emergency Department
- Participation on Clinical Operations Committee of Psychiatry
- Review of new hospital fee payment policies
- Participation on the three Strategic Planning Committees for the 2008-2012 Department of Psychiatry Strategic Plan
- Review of Treatment Team Meeting format for inpatient services with significant changes that are more patient centered
- Co-hosted a Mental Health Fair featuring poster sessions and content experts covering ten psychiatric disease entities in an effort to educate the public and break down stigma associated with mental illness