Russell Regional Hospital Expands in Behavioral Health
Russell Regional Hospital is expanding into behavioral health services to serve local and regional clients.
According to a press release, there has been an expressed need repeatedly identified in community feedback from residents, community leaders and providers. The Russell County Community Health Needs Assessment is completed every three years with the goal to identify areas of improvement and needs that are unmet in the community. The last three assessments - 2015, 2018 and 2021 - have recognized limited access to mental health services as a most pressing need and a root cause of poor health in our community (Vandehaar and Kahl). Russell Regional Hospital intends to address this need by establishing a behavioral health service program.
The program expansion will be facilitated by a licensed master social worker, completing clinical supervision with the State of Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, that will provide outpatient therapy services from the RRH Physicians Clinic setting. A variety of evidence-based treatment modalities, methods and techniques will be offered. Services will be client centered and tailored to meet unique needs to support mental and emotional health. Additionally, services will treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship distress, parenting issues, stress and co-occurring substance use. Targeted population of service will initially focus on individual adolescents, adults, families, couples and support groups. Estimated client age of impact is adolescent to elderly.
Russell Regional Hospital CEO David Caudill commented, "Mental health services is an issue that has been at the top of my list to address since I arrived at RRH almost two years ago, due to the identified need that had been expressed in three previous community health needs assessments that Russell has participated in since 2015. We strive to meet the needs of our community, clients and patients. I am very pleased to see this program expansion develop at RRH and work with committed team members that want to make lasting positive change in the community. Expanding rural health services is a priority at RRH. The leadership team of management and directors are constantly looking for avenues to better serve our community and expand services so that the barriers of clients having to leave town for services can be reduced."
Russell Regional Hospital has been planning this expansion over the past four months as facility logistics, billing and program grants were sought to assist with startup efforts.
Sarah VonFeldt, LMSW, Social Services Director, who will be implementing the expansion of services, said, "In my experiences as a social worker, I've quickly recognized the immense need for consistent and accessible mental health support in our community. Barriers, such as transportation and limited providers, push services out of reach for many. By offering the program at the RRH Physicians Clinic, patients will have ease of access and the opportunity to benefit from a collaborative approach, which is increasingly considered the gold standard of care. Our dedication to the community doesn't stop at physical needs and functioning, it goes beyond, encompassing our patients as a whole. Who they are, what's important to them and how to achieve fulfillment. Our team wants to partner with patients to attain their highest quality of life and overall health from all aspects."
As the program is in its startup phase, a target date for opening services is mid to late summer 2023 so that all of the moving parts can be set into place before taking appointments. To participate in the counseling services, a client does not have to be under the care of an RRH healthcare provider. If an individual receives health services outside of Russell Regional Hospital, they can still receive counseling services at RRH. For additional information, contact Sarah VonFeldt at the Russell Regional Hospital Physicians Clinic at 785-483-3333.
(Information courtesy RRH.)