Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
9-5-2024 1:00 PM
End Date
9-5-2024 4:00 PM
Description
Introduction: The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program offers patient-centered mental-health treatment to those in need with mental illness, addictions, and/or developmental disabilities. The ACT program is unique in providing mental health services in non-restrictive milieus that facilitate patient independence within their natural environment. These services include a variety of multi-disciplinary interventions, such as behavioral health assessments, behavioral health crisis units, family/individual/group counseling, crisis intervention, and various community support services. Our ACT team in rural South Georgia specifically covers Colquitt, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Thomas, and Seminole counties.
Case Presentation: Herein, we present the case of a 51-year old African American male with psychiatric history significant for schizophrenia, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and borderline intellectual functioning. He has been psychiatrically stable as a result of utilizing ACT team services since 2018. Specifically, with the help of the ACT program, the patient has remained without need of psychiatric hospitalization or emergency room visitation for the last six years.
Discussion: Given the numerous benefits of the ACT program, we recommend continuation of support, financially and otherwise, for ACT services, especially in rural communities that have unique needs and challenges. Currently, the ACT program in rural South Georgia does not support telemedicine consultations. We propose that the implementation of telehealth check-ins would specifically benefit rural Georgia, which lacks a concrete public transportation system. We further propose that ACT services have the potential to decrease cost by reducing long-term need for psychiatric hospitalization and emergency room visitation.
Embargo Period
6-12-2024
Included in
Actions speak louder than words: The Assertive Community Treatment program in rural South Georgia
Moultrie, GA
Introduction: The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program offers patient-centered mental-health treatment to those in need with mental illness, addictions, and/or developmental disabilities. The ACT program is unique in providing mental health services in non-restrictive milieus that facilitate patient independence within their natural environment. These services include a variety of multi-disciplinary interventions, such as behavioral health assessments, behavioral health crisis units, family/individual/group counseling, crisis intervention, and various community support services. Our ACT team in rural South Georgia specifically covers Colquitt, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Thomas, and Seminole counties.
Case Presentation: Herein, we present the case of a 51-year old African American male with psychiatric history significant for schizophrenia, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and borderline intellectual functioning. He has been psychiatrically stable as a result of utilizing ACT team services since 2018. Specifically, with the help of the ACT program, the patient has remained without need of psychiatric hospitalization or emergency room visitation for the last six years.
Discussion: Given the numerous benefits of the ACT program, we recommend continuation of support, financially and otherwise, for ACT services, especially in rural communities that have unique needs and challenges. Currently, the ACT program in rural South Georgia does not support telemedicine consultations. We propose that the implementation of telehealth check-ins would specifically benefit rural Georgia, which lacks a concrete public transportation system. We further propose that ACT services have the potential to decrease cost by reducing long-term need for psychiatric hospitalization and emergency room visitation.
Comments
Presented by Maryam Ali & Janai Groves.