TEAM SOLUTIONS AT UMDNJ

UMDNJ-University Behavioral HealthCare (UBHC) recently launched a pilot program combining psychosocial and diagnostic treatment approaches to help patients with mental illness gain control of their lives. "Partners for Excellence in Psychiatry," fully funded by Eli Lilly and Company, will train mental health professionals from more than 60 mostly community-based organizations across the U.S. 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," says Christopher Kosseff, chief executive officer of UBHC and acting vice president for administration at UMDNJ. "This innovative treatment approach, with its emphasis on wellness and collaboration between patients and treatment teams, has the potential to revolutionize the care given to people suffering from chronic mental illness."

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. The second program trains professionals to properly diagnose and monitor certain involuntary movement disorders.

"Partners for Excellence" will offer grants to mental health professionals to attend training at UBHC. A toll-free number and a Web site 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.