A change in the way mentally ill patients are medically treated could be coming to Manatee County soon.

“Law enforcement, an emergency room, and crisis center doesn’t get you to recovery, it keeps you safe,” said Mary Ruiz, President/CEO of Manatee Glens. “But, what’s the next step?  I think there’s a lot of frustration in the community about what’s the next step.”

Ruiz said in hopes of eliminating repeated visits to emergency rooms, hospitals and jails, they’ve come up with a new plan to treat those with medical illnesses.

It’s called “Crisis Behavioral Health Medical Home.” It’s a new way of responding to the mental health crisis.

Ruiz said instead of sending patients to a hospital for care, therapists and doctors will come to them and offer care at their homes for several months.

“You don’t learn to live your life in a hospital,” said Ruiz. “You have to come home sometime. You are given the medical support and social skills to sustain yourself in that home. Why pay $150,000 a year to have somebody in a state hospital? The average cost for these clients is $6,000."

A three-year evaluation (2011-2014) of the crisis behavioral health medical home piloted at Manatee Glens under sponsorship of the Suncoast Region of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN) was released by the three agencies in February of 2015. Ruiz said the results are very promising.

“Innovations in treatment allow us to move beyond the old ways of responding to mental health crisis,” she said. “This is a very hopeful development in care.”

The evaluation compared the number of crisis events experienced by 203 seriously mentally ill adults six months before enrolling in the crisis medical home as compared to six months after completion of services. 

The study found that:
•    Baker Act admissions were reduced from 322 to 88 admissions (73%)
•    Baker Act-8 commitments were diverted from state hospital by 99% (174 of 176)
•    Diverted 22 of 23 involved in criminal justice system from jail (96%)
•    Diverted 15 of 15 in outpatient assisted treatment/supervised release from jail (100%)
•    Alleviated homelessness by 91%, from 55 to 5 persons
 
Representative Greg Steube is partnering with Manatee Glens to help. He is submitting a $625,000 legislative budget request to fund it.

“In 2015, there has to be a better solution than the revolving door blueprint that frustrates law enforcement and compounds the stress already felt by overcrowded emergency rooms, Baker Act receiving facilities and jails,” said Steube.  
 
Ruiz says key factors that make the crisis behavioral medical home successful are:
•    Counselors available 24/7
•    Services delivered daily in home or community
•    One care team addressing multiple problems including co-occurring trauma, homelessness, substance abuse and physical health issues
•    Coaching for recovery, health and wellness
•    Family support including counseling, education and assistance with emergency funds for housing and medication
 
Ruiz also said the new medical home would save taxpayers money. For more information about Manatee Glens, visit www.manateeglens.org.