Members of NUMC’s new Palital Inpatient Program (PHP) will discuss their mental health needs at Friday’s open house. Left to right: Mental Health Therapist Duane Winter, Mental Health Manager Mary Shoop, RN Amy Welch, and Program Assistant Pete Schretz.
New ULM — A new Mental Health Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) will be introduced at New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC) to bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient care.
Before this program began, NUMC had only two mental health treatment options. The outpatient option was for patients to visit a clinic, receive a simple treatment, and go home. Another option was to be admitted as an inpatient and remain at the medical center throughout the treatment process.
Mary Shoop, program manager, said Allina Health, along with PHP, wanted to bridge the gap between the two extreme options. PHP provides a middle ground. Patients come to the hospital on a day program rather than being admitted 24/7. Mental health patients come to her NUMC for six hours a day, five days a week, for three weeks.
“The idea is to stabilize patients who are about to be discharged from inpatient care or prevent them from needing inpatient care.” Mental health therapist Duane Winter says:
The idea is to give mental health inpatients a little bit of a break from 24-hour insurance coverage. PHP also holds group sessions with up to eight patients.
Health systems across the state are facing a mental health crisis. Many medical facilities find themselves lacking space for long-term mental health care.
NUMC has 10 inpatient mental health beds available. These beds are frequently full. If there are no psychiatric beds available, they may end up in the emergency room or be transferred outside the area.
Program assistant Pete Schretz said he knows of patients who come to Mankato every day for partial hospitalization treatment because options were limited in rural areas.
“We need this here.” Schretz said.
PHP reduces the burden on hospitals by reducing the number of patients requiring long-term treatment.
Winter said partial hospitalizations could help break the cycle of hospitalized patients receiving treatment and being discharged. If a person with bipolar disorder is manic, they may later fall into depression and be sent back to the hospital. With this program, you may be able to break that cycle.
PHP group therapy allows patients to process their emotions by talking. It is also a source of education. Many patients need help evaluating their medications.
Winter said many of the mental health patients they see have anxiety. Especially after the coronavirus pandemic.
“There are a lot of people who are worried about returning to work.” He said. “And anxiety often goes hand in hand with depression.”
Mr. Winter believes the partial hospitalization approach is a great opportunity to make treatment easier for patients. He said patients spend most of the day undergoing treatment, but spend their nights at home. The next day they return and talk about how they spent the night. What worked? What do they need help with?
“It’s a better way to control your emotions.” Winter said so.
NUMC also “Intensive outpatient program” (IOP). The program meets three times a week for three hours for three months. This is a step down from the 3 week PHP program. The IOP program is currently on hold until another therapist is hired.
Other goals of these programs are to increase access to mental health care and remove the stigma of mental health care.
Amy Welsh, an RN in the PHP program, said she doesn’t think twice about coming to the hospital for physical pain, but is hesitant when it comes to emotional pain.
PHP Assistant Pete Schretz said stigma around mental health remains an issue. Especially in rural communities. Farmers are struggling with their mental health, but many are reluctant to take action due to time constraints.
Schretz is optimistic that the stigma surrounding mental health will fade, but says it will take time and education.
“That’s what we’re trying to do here.” He said.
