Transcript File - Sarah M. Brothwell

Buffalo Psychiatric
Center
Sarah Brothwell
Mission Statement
BPC’s mission is to operate in collaboration with the local
mental heath system of Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, and
Cattaraugus counties to serve individuals with serious mental
illness in a way that empowers the recipient and fosters hope
and recovery.
Motto, “Dedicated to partnership in hope and recovery”
Guiding Principals:
Customer focus and empowerment
Hope and recovery are achievable
Excellence of service
Safe and therapeutic environment
Responsibility to the total community
Locations/Programs
Outpatient Services
Butler Rehabilitation Center- 400 Forest Ave Buffalo, NY 14213
Assertive Community Treatment Program- Provides recipients with the
tools to obtain and maintain housing, employment and relationships
Butler Recovery and Treatment Center- Provides a broad range of
mental health services to meet the needs of adults with a diagnosis of
mental illness
Elmwood Wellness Center- Provides opportunities to improve fitness
and general health and well-being
Center for Self Discovery- Peer-Run services which links people to the
greater community to help people find their place in the larger world
Locations/Programs Cont.
Del-Nor Recovery and Treatment Center- 737 Delaware Ave
Buffalo, NY 14209. Serves adults specializing in working
with the geriatric population
GOALS Center- 45 Oak Street Buffalo, NY 14203. GOALS
provides adults with mental illness Guidance and
Opportunity and students Act, Learn and Succeed
Lakeside Recovery and Treatment Center- 355 Central
Avenue Fredonia, NY 14063. Provides diagnostic and
treatment services for mentally ill individuals
Lancaster Recovery and Treatment Center- 525 Pavement
Road Lancaster, NY 14086. Provides a broad range of
services for adults with mental illness and their families
Locations/ Services Cont.
Miller-Broadway Recovery and Treatment Center-1384 Broadway
Buffalo, NY 14212. Provides a combination of diagnostic and
treatment services with the goal of helping individuals with mental
illness
North Tonawanda Recovery and Treatment Center- 15 Webster
Street North Tonawanda NY, 14120. Provides verbal therapy,
medication therapy, medication education, symptom management,
health screening and referral and psychiatric rehabilitation readiness
Ransomville Recovery and Treatment Center- 3509 Ransomville
Rd Ransomville, NY 14131. Located within Ransomville Manor
Adult Home. Specializes in aging population and those with
multiple medical needs
Zoar Valley Recovery and Treatment Center- Taylor-Hollow Rd
Collins, NY 14034. Provides a broad range of mental health services
for adults with a diagnosis of mental illness
Locations/ Programs Cont.
Residential Services- Provides living opportunities in a variety of
community locations that support and assist individuals with their
recovery. Experience staff promote empowerment, choice and
independence. Individual service plans are implemented to improve
independence, choice and outcome.
RCCA Residence (most supportive)
Cudmore Hights Residential Care Center for Adults. Located on
the main campus
SOCR
Omsted Residence
Grant St. Residence
Waterfront Residence in Celoron
Strozzi Community Residence
Supported Housing- (least supportive) Individuals are able to have
their own apartments in the neighborhood. Provided with rent
subsidy, peer specialist and staff support
Locations/Programs Cont.
Inpatient Services
Strozzi Building-400 Forest Ave Buffalo, NY 14213. Inpatient
services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are
186 beds and seven units.
This is where I am interning (;
Comprised of 7 inpatient units- Divided by gender, severity of
illness and type of illness.
There are currently 170 consumers in the Strozzi Building and
3,700 clients being treated by BPC.
History
In 1880 the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane was the fifth
state hospital to be built and the first to be opened in the
western end of the state.
In 1890 the name was changed to the Buffalo State Hospital.
From the start, the hospital was overcrowded. By the 1950’s,
there were nearly 4000 residents in the Forest Avenue
buildings.
In the late 1950’s early 1960’s began a major change in
philosophy regarding the treatment of mental illness.
Individuals with mental illness should not be removed from
their communities, but rather they should be treated in the
least restrictive environment.
History Cont.
In 1963 the Community Mental Health Act paved the way
for community mental health centers to replace the state
hospitals.
At the same time “deinstitutionalization” allowed individuals
who no longer needed institutionalization care because of
new medications and/or because they did not pose a threat
to themselves or others to be released into the community.
In 1975 The Buffalo State Hospital changed its name to the
Buffalo Psychiatric Center. At this time it began to organize
its own system of outpatient services in order to follow the
patients it was discharging into the community.
Organizational Structure
Funded by New York State Government
Thomas Dodson- Executive Director
Dr. Josie Olympia- Medical Staff Organization
Celia Spacone, Ph.D- Director for Operations
Leslie Allison- Director for Quality Management
Pamela Esposito- Director for Administrative Services
Dr. Jeffery Grace-Clinical Director
Susan Fallis- Director of Nursing
Kathy Lynch & Ulysses Harrell- Director of Recipient Service
Sue Joffe- Community Relations
Programs Offered
Problem Solving
Body and Mind Connection
Trauma
Communication
Magical Memories
Social Effectiveness
Recovery Skills
Money
Socializing Activities
Drug and Alcohol
Client Goals
The overarching goal for clients residing in the inpatient units
in the Strozzi Building is to become well enough to be
discharged to an out patient unit
Majority of clients have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, as
such, a major goal for this population is medication
management.
Clients are able to earn privileges for good behavior
Escort (1) in the building (2) on the grounds (3) off the grounds
Unescorted 1,2, 3
Money is a major motivator to get out. It costs the client and
their family 900 dollars a day to stay in the Strozzi building.
Residents who do not have the money don’t have to pay until
they have income.
Yoga at the BPC
A gentle yoga that emphasizes an inward connection with one’s
body was considered most appropriate for this population.
Practitioners are encouraged to listen to the needs of their own
body and to honor those needs by moving at their own pace,
modifying poses and/or skipping poses all together.
It is important to keep the entire class active and engaged. Long
periods of silence can be overwhelming and cause anxiety.
Research indicates that meditative/mindfulness practice can
actually be harmful for individuals with schizophrenia or major
depression.
Schedule
Thursday
10:40-11:30 Individual Yoga (one-on-one with referred
patient) 2N ATC
* Twice a month free staff yoga class 12-12:30 to be held
in art studio space**
1-3pm Join Sue’s New Beginnings group to do Art&Yoga
class, 1st hour yoga (mixed gender), 2nd hour art therapy or
yoga at NB 1-2pm
Friday
9:45-10:30 Yoga class on ATC 2N Women’s class
10:40-11:30 Yoga class on ATC 2N Men’s class
What props are available (e.g. blocks, blankets, mats, cushions, sound
system)?
How appropriate are hands on assists for men and women?
How to communicate appropriate attire?
Are the BPC staff allowed to join the class?
Suggested level of difficulty for the class?
How should health concerns be addressed (e.g. high or low blood
pressure, recent surgeries, prosthetic replacements, pregnancy)?
Class Outline
(5mins) Opening: Introduce myself and the meaning and use
of yoga. How is yoga different than exercise? Emphasize the
importance of connecting inward and listening to your body
(there is noting you have to know, there is nothing you have
to do and there is nothing to get right). Discuss using the
breath as a tool to assess the physical state of the body.
(8mins) Pranayama: Centering of the physical body and
breath body (how to sit comfortably). Followed by Ujjayi
pranayamic breathing (Ocean sounding breath).
(10mins) Warm-ups- seated side stretch/twist. Cat/Dog
Tilting. High lung. Downward facing dog (adho mukha
Svanasana), Child’s pose (Garbasana), Plank, lower to
Cobra. Child’s pose. Downward facing dog, walk feet to
hands and slowly rise up.
Class Outline
(15mins) Sun Salutation: A and B
(8mins) Asanas: Seated forward Fold (Pachimottanasana),
Seated Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana) Bridge
(setubandasana),
(8mins) Savasana
(6mins) Closing and end announcements
Staff
Buffalo Psychiatric Center has access to a multidisciplinary
team including:
Social workers
Mental Health Counselors
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Nurses
Living Assistants
Art Therapist
Recreational Therapist
BPC maintains 615 staff members.
Atmosphere of the BPC
My impression of the BPC is that they place a lot of emphasis on
safety (as they should), which makes it feel almost like a prison.
When entering the building you need to come through double
locked doors that are operated by security guards.
Also a majority of the doors in the building are locked and only
accessible with “staff keys.”
We are given an electronic security pad to wear around our necks.
Incase of an emergency we are able to press the button on the pad,
which alerts security to our exact location in the building.
Generally, the place feels a bit tired and worn down. It is clear that
the staff and the patients are doing their best with what they have.
How to Make a Referral
Article 28 Hospitals (aka Hospitals with psychiatric units)
(e.g. ECMC) are able to refer patients to BPC.
Who will Benefit: Individuals 18 and over experiencing
mental health problems and have a primary psychiatric
diagnosis and who are in need of intermediate to longer
inpatient hospitalization.
Link to Web Page
http://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/Facilities/bupc/index.ht
ml
NAMASTE!
From Hallow