Helping patients live well at home

Psychiatric home health care is a clinical specialty of home health services in which psychiatric nurses, social workers, home health aides, and occupational therapists visit the patient with a psychiatric diagnosis in the patient's own home.

Services from BJC Home Care are provided by experienced psychiatric nurses who are master’s degree graduates. They follow a plan of care that is developed and signed by a psychiatrist in consultation with the psychiatric nurse and reviewed at least every 60 days by the psychiatrist. Psychiatric home health services may include skilled assessment, evaluation, psychotherapy, teaching and counseling.

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  • Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia
  • Serious and persistent mental illness, as well as a risk for repeated hospitalizations
  • Chronic schizophrenia or affective disorders, including major depression
  • A history of medication non-adherence
  • A recent release from the hospital with a need for follow-up to prevent relapse
  • A need for monitoring a new psychotropic medication
  • Behavioral or emotional problems associated with physical illness
  • Alcohol and other drug abuse or dependence
  • Anxiety or panic attacks
  • Character/personality disorders experiencing a crisis
  • Suicidal thoughts
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  • Psychiatric nursing consultations and evaluations
  • Venipuncture and monitoring of blood levels of psychotropic medication
  • Assistance in transitioning the patient from the hospital to community
  • Identification and coordination of a support system for the patient to help ease their transition back into the community