scholarly journals The COVID-19 Crisis: A Mental Health Perspective and Response Using Telemedicine

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy B Sullivan ◽  
Alexa Kane ◽  
Alicia J Roth ◽  
Bryan E Davis ◽  
Michelle L Drerup ◽  
...  

With the outbreak of COVID-19, patients and providers were forced to isolate and become innovative in ways to continue exceptional patient care. The Cleveland Clinic went from mostly in-person medical appointments to all virtual/telemedicine care in about 2 weeks’ time. In this piece, we show specifically the thought process and our conversion of the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Behavioral Medicine to ensure that our patients still receive exceptional care and patient experience. Additionally, we discuss the importance of innovating the training and supervision of postdoctoral trainees using telepsychology and virtual options.

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-207
Author(s):  
Benjamin Greenberg ◽  
Youran Fan ◽  
Lucille Carriere ◽  
Amy Sullivan

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) newly seen by a neurologist may benefit from early psychological intervention owing to the reciprocal relationship between stress and disease progression. However, it is uncertain what factors contribute to patients' receiving these services. Methods: Logistic regression analysis of prospectively gathered data evaluated how demographic and disease characteristics and emotional/physical health factors contributed to referral to receive behavioral medicine (BM) services within 1 year of their first neurology appointment at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic. Survival analyses then evaluated whether this resulted in earlier receipt of services. Results: Although many factors were associated with receiving BM services during univariate analyses (age, race, marital status, years since MS onset, depression, stress, and quality of life), when considering multivariable interactions, only two variables remained significant: age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80–0.92) and depression (OR = 1.56, 95% CI, 1.39–1.75). Survival analyses did not show differences in time to BM services for stratifications of age or depression scores. Conclusions: Younger patients and patients with more severe depression were more likely to receive BM services within 1 year of their first neurology appointment. Future research will focus on evaluating whether these are also the patients in greatest need of services or whether they are simply more open to receiving them.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e001128
Author(s):  
Alexander Adams ◽  
Virginia Davies ◽  
Bethany Stubbs

IntroductionOnline resources are an important source of information about mental health issues and services for children and young people. Our service’s website had an out-of-date appearance and was aimed at professionals. More importantly, comments in our routinely collected patient experience data indicated that service users did not know what to expect when coming to our service.MethodsWe followed the model for improvement by testing out changes in plan, do, study and act cycles that included a review of recently updated child and adolescent mental health services’ and youth charities’ websites, designing a new web page for our service and then testing out the website in focus groups. We used routinely collected patient experience data to assess impact on wider patient satisfaction.ResultsFocus groups involving patients, parents and professionals judged the new website to be clearer, more attractive and easier to understand. Routine patient experience data did not reveal any website-specific feedback.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that it is easy and possible to create an attractive and accessible website for a mental health service using quality improvement methodology. In order to capture and integrate ongoing feedback about a service’s website from service users, routinely collected patient experience measures would need to ask specific questions related to this area. In this study, preproject and postproject patient experience data did not generate any specific comments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Schrire ◽  
C Estela

Abstract Introduction Plastic Surgery Minor Operations is a fast paced, rapid turnover operative environment. It is reliant on effective communication, accurate surgery, and time efficiency. It was noticed in our department that there was confusion regarding booking and operative intentions leading to delays in surgery and over-running lists. This was worsening patient experience and leading to delays in patient care. Method In response to the delays and confusion in booking, a new booking form was created, so all patients have a standardised booking containing the necessary information. This form was disseminated across all the booking clinics and formed a vital part of the pre-operative check in process. Results The audit was carried out at the time of introduction, and then re-audited a year later to see if the form has improved care for patients. Results showed that with the new booking form, people were not having to cancel or rearrange patients. Patient booking forms were sufficient, and a copy of the clinic letter no longer required for the operation to proceed or for clarity. It was noted that more senior advice was sought. Conclusions The new form has improved patient flow and quality of patient care, whilst streamlining the booking process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloy Wylie ◽  
Ann Marie Corrado ◽  
Nandni Edwards ◽  
Meriem Benlamri ◽  
Daniel E. Murcia Monroy

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 685-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyla A. McKay ◽  
Helen Tremlett ◽  
John D. Fisk ◽  
Scott B. Patten ◽  
Kirsten Fiest ◽  
...  

Background: Depression and anxiety are common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), as are adverse health behaviours, but the associations between these factors are unclear. Objective: To evaluate the associations between cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and depression and anxiety in MS in a cross-Canada prospective study. Methods: From July 2010 to March 2011 we recruited consecutive MS patients from four MS clinics. At three visits over two years, clinical and demographic information was collected, and participants completed questionnaires regarding health behaviours and mental health. Results: Of 949 participants, 75.2% were women, with a mean age of 48.6 years; most had a relapsing−remitting course (72.4%). Alcohol dependence was associated with increased odds of anxiety (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.32–2.58) and depression (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.05–2.23) adjusting for age, sex, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and smoking status. Smoking was associated with increased odds of anxiety (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.02–1.63) and depression (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.04–1.78) adjusting for age, sex, EDSS, and alcohol dependence. Alcohol dependence was associated with an increased incidence of depression but not anxiety. Depression was associated with an increased incidence of alcohol dependence. Conclusion: Alcohol dependence and smoking were associated with anxiety and depression. Awareness of the effects of adverse health behaviours on mental health in MS might help target counselling and support for those ‘at risk’.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 361-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Burns

SummaryUK mental healh services have been distinguished by their continuity of care but recently there has been a move to separating consultant responsibility for in-patient and out-patient care. Local examples of the success of this approach have been published but there has been remarkably little careful thought about its longer-term impacts. International comparisons would suggest that there are significant potential disadvantages, including increased bed pressures. Some disadvantages, such as the poor fit with the Mental Health Act and patient dissatisfaction with structural discontinuity are already obvious. A more considered debate is called for.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 225-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Gilbertson ◽  
Maryanna D. Klatt

Background: Mindfulness in Motion is an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention that uses yoga movement, mindfulness meditation, and relaxing music. This study examined the feasibility of using Mindfulness in Motion in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the effect of this program on stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life in people with MS. Methods: Twenty-two people with MS completed the 8-week mindfulness program as well as assessments 1 week before and after the intervention. Results: Pre/post comparison of four self-reported questionnaires—the Mental Health Inventory, 36-item Short Form Health Status Survey, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire—showed significant improvement in physical functioning, vitality, and mental health. Specifically, improvements were seen in anxiety, depression, and positive affect; cognitive, psychosocial, and overall functioning regarding fatigue; and mindfulness in the areas of observing, acting with awareness, nonjudgment, and nonreactivity. Conclusions: Due to the uncertainty in disease progression associated with MS, and the multiplicity of mental and physical symptoms associated with it, programming that addresses anxiety, depression, and fatigue is a key area of future research in MS disease management. Mindfulness in Motion proved to be a feasible program yielding positive results, supporting the need for research to determine the extent to which the program can improve quality-of-life outcomes for people with MS.


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