Press ReleaseFor Immediate Release
Contact: Susan Preston
(973) 972-7265
University
Program Revolutionizes Care for People Living With Mental Illness
Healthcare Providers Learn to Partner with Patients to Manage
Lifestyle, Wellness
The University of Medicine
and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) today launched a new program
that could dramatically improve the care of individuals who suffer
from severe mental illness.
UMDNJ's University Behavioral
HealthCare (UBHC) will implement and manage "Partners for Excellence
in Psychiatry," a pilot program that combines psychosocial and diagnostic
treatment approaches to help patients with mental illness gain control
of their lives. The initiative, fully funded by Eli Lilly and Company,
will train mental health professionals from more than 60 mostly
community-based organizations from all parts of the U.S. over the
next 12 months, at no cost to the agencies.
"Since no standards of
care for seriously mentally ill individuals currently exist, sub-optimal
care is too often the norm," said Christopher Kosseff, Chief Executive
Officer of UBHC. "This innovative treatment approach, with its emphasis
on wellness and collaboration between patients and their treatment
teams, has the potential to revolutionize the care given to people
suffering from chronic mental illness.
We are excited about
this academic-industry partnership because of its potential to significantly
improve the quality of life for individuals whose mental illness
has diminished their ability to lead normal lives," Kosseff said.
"Lilly is committed to
leading the way in providing products and services to mental healthcare
professionals which will help create the therapeutic alliance that
is so essential in helping patients move their lives forward and
achieve their full potential," said Bert vandenBergh, President,
Neuroscience Products, Eli Lilly and Company. "We are delighted
to have a partner in UMDNJ who shares our commitment to this goal."
The main component of
Partners for Excellence is "Team Solutions," a series of workbooks
that helps patients and their families understand schizophrenia
and how to manage their illness with information about symptoms,
medication, side effects, preventing relapse and managing crises
and emergencies. UBHC will teach healthcare providers and other
treatment team members how to guide patients through each workbook
to encourage discussion, answer questions and ensure understanding
of each topic.
UBHC will also train
mental health professionals in the use of two complementary programs
that guide patients and providers in managing the side effects of
psychiatric medications. The first, called "Solutions for Wellness,"
provides a structured approach to weight management, including psycho-educational
material on nutrition, fitness and exercise. The second program
trains professionals to properly diagnose and monitor certain involuntary
movement disorders - side effects sometimes associated with certain
psychiatric medications.
"Partners for Excellence"
will offer grants to mental health professionals to attend training
at UBHC. The scope of this training will encompass not only training
in Team Solutions and its associated programs, but also in organizational
change necessary for implementation of these programs. UBHC staff
will offer consultation services to assist the participating organizations
in implementing these new programs. The training initiative will
begin in January of 2003.
A toll-free number and
a website are available to provide information to groups who may
be interested in participating in the Partners for Excellence Program.
Interested groups are encouraged to call 888-888-8221 and/or visit
www.partners4excellence.org.
UMDNJ is the largest
university of its kind in the nation. It comprises the state's only
three medical schools and dental school, and also has schools of
nursing, public health, health related professions, and graduate
biomedical sciences. The University offers 27 academic programs
in health sciences. Its four main academic health care campuses
are located in Newark, Camden, Stratford and Piscataway/New Brunswick,
and it also has affiliations with more than 200 academic and health
care institutions throughout New Jersey. UMDNJ is dedicated to the
pursuit of excellence in: the undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate
and continuing education of health professionals and scientists;
the conduct of basic biomedical, psychosocial, clinical and public
health research; health promotion, disease prevention and the delivery
of health care; and service to the citizens of New Jersey.
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven
corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of best-in-class
pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its
own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent
scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, Lilly
provides answers - through medicines and information - for some
of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information
about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.
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