Behavioral Health
The Behavioral Health Department is looking at providing other integrated services that cover the needs of our beneficiaries. The first of these is Prime For Life and Adult Alcohol and Drug Information School (ADIS) classes that we hope to offer once per month to first time alcohol or drug adjudicated offenders. The Prime For Life/ADIS classes teach the dangers of continued use, legal issues, the physiology of alcohol/drug use, and life consequences. These are taught by the addictions staff members who have achieved advanced training and certification to provide this service.
Key to the good behavioral and medical health of CRNA clients is the Psychiatric Clinic that now manages six to eight visits per year. This is a valuable service wherein a psychiatrist who is widely respected throughout the State comes into our region and provides consultation and treatment to beneficiaries in latest medications, differential diagnoses, and clinical approaches to optimal client care. The psychiatrist as an expert in the psychotropic medications has been able to steer clients away from detrimental drug interactions while increasing the effectiveness of medications. He offers ways of supplementing our formulary to best treat the many clients that our agency sees.
The Behavioral Health Department also collaborates with the Alaska Psychiatric Institute’s Dr. Wandall Wynn to supply on-going consultation and address ongoing needs of the BHS staff, educators, health care providers, and consumers.