Project Description:
Need:
Nevadas mental health workforce is underdeveloped in volume and clinical expertise throughout the state, but is the most under-served in the geographically rural locations. Currently no adult or child psychiatrists live outside of Washoe or Clark County, and other mental health professionals (such as licensed clinical social workers) are in short supply. In order to develop the expertise required for NAVIGATE, an evidence-based intervention model for first-episode psychosis, to be implemented in Nevadas rural regions, the local, rural mental health workforce will need ongoing access to expert consultation and support.
Goals and Objectives:
The overall goal of this project is to provide early, interdisciplinary, team-oriented, evidence-based intervention to adolescents and young adults experiencing their first episode of psychosis, and to thereby prevent the long-term disability associated with this diagnosis.
The Nevada Center for Excellence in Disability (NCED) will provide technical assistance to the Nevada Rural First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) program in two ways:
1) Dr. Erika Ryst, Psychiatrist and Medical Director of the NCED, will provide general program consultation and direct clinical service by performing standardized, diagnostic evaluations of clients entering into the FEP program;
2) Led by Dr. Ryst, a team of faculty from the University of Nevada, Reno, will develop Nevada Project ECHO (Expanding Community Healthcare Outcomes) clinics to support the implementation of the FEP program (topics include: Diagnosis and Assessment, Psychotherapy, Psychopharmacology, Medical Coordination and Co-occuring Conditions.) Nevada Project ECHO is an ideal platform to provide the type of technical assistance required for the implementation of NAVIGATE principles within a rural, FEP intervention program. Utilizing highly accessible teleconnection technology, Project ECHO connects teams of practitioners in remote communities (the spokes) via laptop computers to an interdisciplinary hub team of experts located at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Hub teams are assembled based on expertise and knowledge of specific learning topics that are important to the end users (the spokes). Adult learning principles inform the ECHO model, as the model uses a case-based learning format that is practical and allows the participants to directly apply expert recommendations to the clinical problems that they experience on a daily basis. The interdisciplinary nature of the ECHO Hub teams also ensures that the content includes well-rounded, nuanced and team-based learning that is essential in todays complex healthcare environment. The ultimate end result is a merging of the Spokes and Hub participants into a vital and supportive learning community that enhances the professional development and expertise of all.
Expected benefits of this technical assistance will be to aid the development of high-fidelity, evidence-based intervention to individuals with first-episode psychosis in the rural counties, and ultimately the entire state.
Core Function(s):
Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Continuing Education/Community Training, Demonstration Services
Target Audience:
Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
