Catholic Charities Partners With Hall-Brooke To Expand Outreach To Mental Health Patients

BRIDGEPORT — Catholic Charities has announced a partnership with Hall Brooke Behavioral Health Services of Westport to help area residents who require on-going medication treatment for mental health problems.

The announcement of a new Medical Management Service was made by Al Barber, executive director of Catholic Charities, and Thomas E. Smith, MD, medical director of Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of St Vincent’s Health Services.

“This new venture is a further step between Catholic Charities and Hall-Brooke, two leading providers of mental health services in the region,” Mr Barber said. “It’s part of a growing collaboration reflecting a shared faith-based mission and a commitment to those who suffer from chronic mental illness.”

“We’re pleased that this agreement extends the continuum of care in the community, moving us toward seamless, comprehensive services,” Dr Smith said. “Patients who have been hospitalized at Hall-Brooke or other facilities can return to the community with an appropriate level of ongoing support. We’re expanding the care options and also the relationship between Catholic Charities and Hall-Brooke.”

Hall-Brooke now provides the psychiatric medical directors for the Catholic Charities mental health clinics in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, and Stamford. In the new agreement, Hall-Brooke will provide a licensed nurse practitioner, while Catholic Charities provides the locations and staff to house the new services.

Bill Hoey, director of the Bridgeport region of Catholic Charities, said that Medications Management services “provide a level of services that have not been readily available to clients in our area. We’re expanding medical options for those who don’t need or can’t benefit from therapy. Our approach is cost-effective and convenient for those on medication.”

Mr Hoey adds that the new service will be particularly valuable to those who have had difficulty renewing prescriptions or accessing medications management services. “Anyone on medication for the long term can benefit from this service that will lead to an appropriate medication regimen for each client,” he said.

The nurse practitioner will review and approve medications, provide clinic consultation to the clinical staff relating to clients, and participate in the agency’s quality improvement activities.

“Patients will continue to receive medically monitored services, Mr Hoey explained. “If at some point they require more serious treatment, that care will be facilitated by that fact that they are already in a service delivery system.”

Hall-Brooke nurse practitioner Maria Villanueva, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), will coordinate the program with Catholic Charities therapist and nurse practitioner Nancy Minor, APRN.