Webhealth
Webhealth has been specifically developed to provide access for people to
connect with Health and Social Services. This web-based approach builds on
the strengths of people and families to determine their support needs. Within the Webhealth website is Linkage. Linkage is a
partnership between an NGO, Pathways; primary health care, Pinnacle; and a
secondary provider/hospital, Health Waikato. It offers early intervention
services with a “one stop shop” in central Hamilton and New Plymouth.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Mental Illness and Justice
A four part series in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, highlighted at the NAMI web site - "In the latter 20th century, the deinstitutionalization movement swept most of the mentally ill out of large institutions and into the community, where they were supposed to receive care that was less restrictive, more humane and more effective. While this has worked for some, others became 'frequent fliers' — law enforcement slang for those people trapped in a vicious circle of mental wards, homelessness or cheap boarding houses — and jail. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's four-part series examines the scope of the problem faced by the criminal justice and mental health systems and proposes ways to stop the turning of this costly and harmful revolving door." NAMI notes that "This is not the first time the paper has succeeded in accurate coverage of mental health issues. In 2003, the Sun-Sentinel won a NAMI Media Award for Newspaper Feature Reporting."
comment []
A four part series in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, highlighted at the NAMI web site - "In the latter 20th century, the deinstitutionalization movement swept most of the mentally ill out of large institutions and into the community, where they were supposed to receive care that was less restrictive, more humane and more effective. While this has worked for some, others became 'frequent fliers' — law enforcement slang for those people trapped in a vicious circle of mental wards, homelessness or cheap boarding houses — and jail. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's four-part series examines the scope of the problem faced by the criminal justice and mental health systems and proposes ways to stop the turning of this costly and harmful revolving door." NAMI notes that "This is not the first time the paper has succeeded in accurate coverage of mental health issues. In 2003, the Sun-Sentinel won a NAMI Media Award for Newspaper Feature Reporting."
comment []
The Internet’s Impact on the Practice of Psychiatry
Article in the January Canadian Journal of Psychiatry - "In the past decade, the Internet has rapidly evolved into a mainstream communication and information resource. During this period, health care resources and databases have been developed. This paper reviews the literature on e-mail communication and on-line health care information resources to determine the impact on psychiatry." See also, in the same issue, Clinical and Educational Telepsychiatry Applications: A Review. Both article are in Adobe Acrobat format.
comment []
Article in the January Canadian Journal of Psychiatry - "In the past decade, the Internet has rapidly evolved into a mainstream communication and information resource. During this period, health care resources and databases have been developed. This paper reviews the literature on e-mail communication and on-line health care information resources to determine the impact on psychiatry." See also, in the same issue, Clinical and Educational Telepsychiatry Applications: A Review. Both article are in Adobe Acrobat format.
comment []
Delineating the Population Served by a Mobile Crisis Team: Organizing Diversity
An article in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, noted in the CMHA newsletter Mental Health Notes - "While mobile crisis teams have proliferated to address gaps in service for individuals with serious mental illness, research into their effectiveness is limited. This study identifies specific cohorts of individuals served by a single mobile crisis team so that appropriate program evaluation could be designed and conducted for each unique grouping."
comment []
An article in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, noted in the CMHA newsletter Mental Health Notes - "While mobile crisis teams have proliferated to address gaps in service for individuals with serious mental illness, research into their effectiveness is limited. This study identifies specific cohorts of individuals served by a single mobile crisis team so that appropriate program evaluation could be designed and conducted for each unique grouping."
comment []
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 2002-2003 Research Report
A report, in Adobe Acrobat format, from Research Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, "....a leading-edge facility whose breadth and excellence is evidenced not only by the profile of our research activities, but also by the organizations that partner with us in these efforts. Research initiatives at the Centre continue to play a critical role in revolutionizing our understanding and approaches to prevention and care in the fields of mental health and addiction..."
comment []
A report, in Adobe Acrobat format, from Research Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, "....a leading-edge facility whose breadth and excellence is evidenced not only by the profile of our research activities, but also by the organizations that partner with us in these efforts. Research initiatives at the Centre continue to play a critical role in revolutionizing our understanding and approaches to prevention and care in the fields of mental health and addiction..."
comment []
Treating Insomnia in Patients with Substance Use/Abuse Disorders
Article in the February Psychiatric Times - "Patients who use or abuse alcohol and other substance are at high risk for insomnia and present unique challenges for treating this debilitating disease. The three avenues of treatment--behavioral, OTC medications and prescription medications--are reviewed and future trends are outlined."
comment []
Article in the February Psychiatric Times - "Patients who use or abuse alcohol and other substance are at high risk for insomnia and present unique challenges for treating this debilitating disease. The three avenues of treatment--behavioral, OTC medications and prescription medications--are reviewed and future trends are outlined."
comment []
Substance Use Disorders and Hepatitis C
Article in the February Psychiatric Times - "Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is frequently complicated by the presence of co-existing substance use disorders and mental illnesses. It is important to find improved ways to address barriers to care, and to provide effective and humane care to patients suffering from HCV infection.."
comment []
Article in the February Psychiatric Times - "Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is frequently complicated by the presence of co-existing substance use disorders and mental illnesses. It is important to find improved ways to address barriers to care, and to provide effective and humane care to patients suffering from HCV infection.."
comment []
Protest Over Audit Spurs Insurer To Define Standards
Article in the February Psychiatric Times - "Professional organizations from the New York State area protested an audit of clinical records by a managed care company, claiming unspecified standards had led to demands for large repayments. While the company stated it ended the audit only until standards could be defined, the organizations touted the power of presenting a unified front."
comment []
Article in the February Psychiatric Times - "Professional organizations from the New York State area protested an audit of clinical records by a managed care company, claiming unspecified standards had led to demands for large repayments. While the company stated it ended the audit only until standards could be defined, the organizations touted the power of presenting a unified front."
comment []
Taking Spin Out of Report That Made Bad Into Good Health
February 22 New York Times feature - "The Bush administration says it improperly altered a report documenting large racial and ethnic disparities in health care, but it will soon publish the full, unexpurgated document. 'There was a mistake made,' Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, told Congress last week. 'It's going to be rectified.' Advertisement Mr. Thompson said that "some individuals took it upon themselves" to make the report sound more positive than was justified by the data. The reversal comes in response to concerns of Democrats and the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, Republican of Tennessee. They are pushing separate bills to improve care for members of minorities." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free]. See also realted postings that appeared here on January 28 and January 14.
comment []
February 22 New York Times feature - "The Bush administration says it improperly altered a report documenting large racial and ethnic disparities in health care, but it will soon publish the full, unexpurgated document. 'There was a mistake made,' Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, told Congress last week. 'It's going to be rectified.' Advertisement Mr. Thompson said that "some individuals took it upon themselves" to make the report sound more positive than was justified by the data. The reversal comes in response to concerns of Democrats and the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, Republican of Tennessee. They are pushing separate bills to improve care for members of minorities." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free]. See also realted postings that appeared here on January 28 and January 14.
comment []
Bush to Revisit Changes in Medicaid Rules
New York Times story - "After strenuous protests from governors of both parties, the Bush administration said Sunday that it would reconsider tough new rules on the financing of Medicaid that could limit the states' ability to provide health care for millions of poor people. Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, conveyed the administration's decision to governors here for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association. Though formal sessions of the association focused on issues that cut across party lines, like Medicaid, education and highway construction, presidential politics dominated many conversations among governors..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
comment []
New York Times story - "After strenuous protests from governors of both parties, the Bush administration said Sunday that it would reconsider tough new rules on the financing of Medicaid that could limit the states' ability to provide health care for millions of poor people. Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, conveyed the administration's decision to governors here for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association. Though formal sessions of the association focused on issues that cut across party lines, like Medicaid, education and highway construction, presidential politics dominated many conversations among governors..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
comment []
Lifting the Veils of Autism, One by One by One
New York Times article - "... Sixty years after it was first identified, autism remains one of the most puzzling of childhood disorders. Its cause or causes are still unknown. But in recent years, investigators have begun to dislodge some of its secrets. ... In the future, experts say, such research may yield effective medical treatments to augment or even replace the intensive behavioral therapy that is the prescription most autistic children now receive. In learning more about autism, a disorder that in some form affects at least 425,000 Americans under 18, scientists may also increase knowledge about language development, emotion, even friendship and love..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
comment []
New York Times article - "... Sixty years after it was first identified, autism remains one of the most puzzling of childhood disorders. Its cause or causes are still unknown. But in recent years, investigators have begun to dislodge some of its secrets. ... In the future, experts say, such research may yield effective medical treatments to augment or even replace the intensive behavioral therapy that is the prescription most autistic children now receive. In learning more about autism, a disorder that in some form affects at least 425,000 Americans under 18, scientists may also increase knowledge about language development, emotion, even friendship and love..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
comment []
Effectiveness of mental health court being studied
Herald-Sun (North Carolina) story - "Because mental health courts across the nation are so new, not too many studies have been conducted to determine whether they are an effective way of dealing with the mentally ill who commit crimes. There are only, so far, a few simple statistics relating to the effectiveness of the Orange County Community Resource Court. But an N.C. State University graduate student is conducting research on the court. Marlee Gurrera, a graduate student in sociology, began her study in 2002 and is seeking to determine if the court is effective in reducing the number of times a defendant is arrested, if it saves taxpayer money, if it provides quality treatment for the defendants and whether defendants are helped in finding housing and jobs."
comment []
Herald-Sun (North Carolina) story - "Because mental health courts across the nation are so new, not too many studies have been conducted to determine whether they are an effective way of dealing with the mentally ill who commit crimes. There are only, so far, a few simple statistics relating to the effectiveness of the Orange County Community Resource Court. But an N.C. State University graduate student is conducting research on the court. Marlee Gurrera, a graduate student in sociology, began her study in 2002 and is seeking to determine if the court is effective in reducing the number of times a defendant is arrested, if it saves taxpayer money, if it provides quality treatment for the defendants and whether defendants are helped in finding housing and jobs."
comment []
Copyright 2003 © Bill Davis.
IIMHL Update is a project done in collaboration with MHCA and the Centre for Community Change International. IIMHL Update is powered by Radio Userland.