News from Lifespan

Bradley Hospital launches Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Summer Program

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, has launched a first-of-its-kind summer program for children and adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Summer Program offers intensive, focused treatment for children 10 to 18 years old who have not responded to traditional outpatient treatment or who lack specialized OCD services where they live.

The program, the only overnight two-week OCD summer program in the country, offers three sessions at Bradley Hospital’s campus in East Providence, R.I. During his or her two-week stay, the treatment team will help each child alleviate OCD symptoms, while still participating in summer fun and activities.

“Childhood and adolescence are typically times of imagination, exploration and possibility; however, OCD can distort a young person’s sense of self and dreams for the future,” said Abbe Garcia, Ph.D., clinical co-director of the Intensive Program for OCD at Bradley Hospital. “This program offers children the boost they need to regain enthusiasm for new experiences and promote further involvement in school, social and family activities.”

The hospital-based program is led by clinicians who have extensive experience treating children and adolescents with OCD, including expertise in the use of exposure and response prevention (ERP). This approach strengthens a child’s ability to manage anxiety by gradually facing fears and reducing the repetitive rituals of OCD.

During the OCD Summer Program, children and teens will participate in ERP exercises that will take place in the context of summer fun activities, including sports, swimming and art projects. Daytrips to the beach, the zoo and other locations across Rhode Island will provide real-world settings for therapy and opportunities to practice new skills in the community.

In addition to ERP exercises, youth in the summer program will also participate in individual sessions with psychologists, daily meetings with a psychiatrist, daily group sessions and other individualized therapies to tailor treatment to each child’s specific needs. Program staff will stay in contact with parents before, during and after their children’s participation in the program, as well as help with referrals to clinicians and local care providers in each family’s community.

The OCD Summer Program’s sessions are offered in July and August. For more information about the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Summer Program, please visit http://www.bradleyhospital.org/oth/Page.asp?PageID=OTHG60239.

Bradley Hospital Opens Intensive Program for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, recently launched a new program aimed at helping children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a disorder that affects one in 200 children nationwide.

The Intensive Program for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, the first of its kind on the East Coast, uses a milieu-based model to treat kids who experience a significant disruption to their daily lives due to OCD and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders.

The evidence-based program helps children, from five to 18 years old, alleviate symptoms, such as extreme anxiety, unreasonable thoughts and fears, and repetitive behaviors or rituals, all while improving daily functioning. The program also helps kids stay involved in school and family activities.

“For children and teens with severe OCD, the disruption to their daily lives can be profound,” said Jennifer Freeman, PhD, clinical co-director of the Intensive Program for OCD. “This program can be an effective care option for youth who have not responded to traditional outpatient treatment or who lack specialized OCD services where they live.”

In addition to Freeman, the program is led by a team of child behavioral experts, including medical director Brady Case, MD, and clinical co-director Abbe Garcia, PhD. Freeman and Garcia also co-direct the Pediatric Anxiety Research Clinic at the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center.

Patients are treated utilizing a specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy called exposure and response prevention (EX/RP), which has been found to be the most effective form of treatment for OCD. This therapy strengthens a child’s ability to manage anxiety by helping him or her gradually face fears and ultimately reduce the repetitive rituals of OCD.

Patients in the program receive treatment after school for daily three-hour sessions at Bradley Hospital, as well as twice weekly EX/RP sessions at their home, school and other community settings. The integration of community- and hospital-based treatment helps to avoid academic and social disruption, and help children and teens return to family life as quickly as possible.

“Every day challenges for children and teens with severe OCD can include school avoidance, withdrawal from family and friends, loss of interest in activities and problems eating, sleeping or bathing,” said Freeman. “Being able to offer an intensive intervention that will help these kids go back to ‘just being kids’ as soon as possible is invaluable.”

The Intensive Program for OCD creates individualized, age-appropriate treatment plans for each patient, including individual therapy, and family, group and milieu therapy. Parents and family members contribute to this plan, starting with the patient’s evaluation and throughout treatment. Clinical staff also work closely with the school system to develop reintegration plans for a successful return to school.

Find out more about the Intensive Program for OCD online or call 401-432-1516.

Bradley Hospital Announces Spring Speaking of Kids Schedule

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT

What:	The goal of Speaking of Kids is to provide parents and caregivers with tools that can help them raise happy, healthy children. Each workshop is about two hours long with time for audience questions. The Speaking of Kids series is presented by Bradley Hospital.
When:	Tuesday, April 23, 2013 “Enhancing Communication for Students with Autism” Stephen Sheinkopf, Ph.D. 6 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2013 “Positive Approaches to Discipline” Rowland Barrett, Ph.D. 6 p.m.
Where:	Showcase Cinema 1200 Quaker Lane Warwick, R.I.
Other	Speaking of Kids programs are free and open to the public. Professional credits are available for nurses, social workers and child care providers at a cost of $10. To register, call the Lifespan Health Connection at 401-444-4800 or 1-800-927-1230. For more information, visit http://www.bradleyhospital.org/SOK.

Bradley Hospital Announces "Parenting Matters" 2013

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

What	Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children, presents its 23^rd annual Parenting Matters conference. This half-day event offers parents, childcare providers and teachers a unique opportunity to learn from top child development and behavior professionals in a casual setting. The event will feature a keynote presentation by Kenneth Barish, Ph.D., a clinical associate professor of psychology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Barish will present: “Pride and Joy: A Guide to Understanding Your Child’s Emotions and Solving Family Problems.” Barish will offer solutions to many common problems of daily family life - problems that may erode the joyfulness of children and the pleasure in being parents. In addition to the keynote presentation, a variety of workshops are available, including, “Pride and Joy in the Classroom,” “Stress Management for Caregivers,” “The Impact of Modern Technology on the American Family,” “Behavioral Evaluation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” “Bullying in Childhood,” “Confident and Self-Assured Kids,” and many more.
When:	Saturday, April 6, 2013 8 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. (8:45 a.m. – keynote address)
Where:	Barrington High School 220 Lincoln Ave. Barrington, R.I.
Other:	The registration fee is $20 per person before March 29. After March 29, the registration fee is $25. Registration is available online at http://www.bradleyhospital.org/parenting_matters or by telephone at 401-444-4800 or 1-800-927-1230. R.I. Department of Education, RIDCYF, and social work CEU professional credits are available.

Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center Investigators Receive $1.5 Million Grant to Explore HIV Treatment Compliance in Young Adults

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers will study mobile app to engage young adults in managing their health

Watch the video.

Larry Brown, MD, and Laura Whiteley, MD, adolescent behavioral researchers from the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center, have been awarded a $1.5 million grant to improve antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence in HIV infected youth and young adults.

The study, funded by The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), will explore the use of a mobile phone app/game to better inform youth about their health needs and improve their adherence to treatment.

“Optimal outcomes in the treatment of people living with HIV require consistent attendance to medical appointments and high compliance to antiretroviral treatment,” said Whiteley. “Treatment adherence is associated with enhanced CD4+ cell count, reductions in HIV viral load, decreased transmission and an overall decrease in risk of death. Teaching young adults with HIV how to better manage their health is crucial to their long-term wellbeing.”

In the study, young adults between the ages of 14 to 24 who are HIV positive will have access to an action-adventure smartphone based app/game called “Battle Viro.” Tasks within the game are related to common HIV treatment protocols, such as players collecting pills to keep immune level scores high.

While gaming, participants will experience action-oriented adventures with a goal of increasing knowledge about their health (treatment, transmission, adherence), improving players’ motivation to manage their personal health, and building skills, such as interacting with physicians.

“Despite the necessity of treatment adherence for optimal health outcomes, youth living with HIV often do not stay in care and do not consistently take their HIV medications,” said Brown. “There is a great need to find effective interventions to improve treatment adherence for adolescents and young adults infected with HIV. Without adherence to medical care, we are not likely to halt the progression to AIDS.”

Pill bottle opening data from each participant’s medication bottle cap will be captured using a tracking technology, to measure whether participants are taking their medication regularly. The research team hopes to find more consistent medication adherence among the group that plays the smartphone game.

Brown and Whiteley’s principal affiliations are the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center, a division of the Lifespan health system in Rhode Island. They also have academic appointments at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, department of psychiatry and human behavior.

Bradley Hospital Experts Launch New Conference Series for Professional Training and Education

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Bradley Hospital's clinical expertise, internationally renowned research, and academic affiliation with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University make the hospital a unique resource in all areas of behavioral health care. The newly launched Bradley Conference series is designed to provide a wide range of learning experiences to provide the training that behavioral health care professionals need to stay at the forefront of their fields.

The clinical staff from Bradley Hospital will lead an ongoing series of conference sessions to provide education for psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses, certified counselors, speech/language and occupational therapists, teachers, milieu therapists, and other professionals. Topics cover different behavioral health populations and treatment modalities and are intended to provide practical, state-of-the-art information.

Who/What:	Bradley Hospital will host two conferences this spring as part of its six-part 2013 “Child Psychotherapy Master Clinician Series.” Expert speakers will lead sessions designed to provide training and continuing education for psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses, certified counselors, speech/language and occupational therapists, teachers, milieu therapists, and other professionals.
When:	Thursday, April 4, 2013 “Using Motivational Interviewing with Adolescents” Speaker: Nadine R. Mastroleo, PhD This session introduces the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) by mental health clinicians working with a wide range of client concerns, with special attention on the use of MI with adolescents who use alcohol or other drugs. Nadine R. Mastroleo, PhD, Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and assistant professor (research) at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, will lead the conference. Thursday, May 2, 2013 “Advanced Tools for Treating Children in a Family Context” Speakers: Michelle Rickerby, MD and Thomas Roesler, MD This presentation focuses on understanding symptoms in a family context and learning how to interview children and their families to further that understanding and intervene systemically. The conference will be led by Michelle Rickerby, MD, from the department of psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital and clinical associate professor at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; and Thomas Roesler, MD, from the department of psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital and associate professor at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Where:	Squantum Club 947 Veterans Memorial Parkway Riverside, R.I.
Other:	The cost of each program is $99. Registration deadlines are April 1 and April 29, respectively. Beverages and light snacks are provided at both conferences, and continuing education credits are available. For more information or to register, call the Lifespan Health Connection at 401-444-4800 or 1-800-927-1230, or visit http://www.bradleyconference.org.

Lifespan Takes Major Step to Transform Health Care Delivery

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Selects Epic Systems technology platform for its patient-centric approach

Bradley Hospital and Gateway Healthcare Launch Kids’Link RI 24-hour Hotline for Children in Emotional Crisis

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

1-855-KIDLINK available for children with behavioral problems or psychiatric illness

Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, has collaborated with Gateway Healthcare, Rhode Island’s largest community behavioral health care provider, to offer a 24-hour hotline for children in need of mental health care.

Kids’Link RI is a hotline that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for children in emotional crisis and who are suffering from behavioral problems or psychiatric illness.

“As many parents know all too well, a child can have a crisis or an emergency any time of the day or night. We want to make sure families have access to the care they need,” said Henry Sachs, M.D., chief medical officer of Bradley Hospital. “With the Kids’Link hotline, we are providing a safety net, so that no matter where or when a child needs help, he or she can receive it.”

The hotline -- 1-855-KIDLINK -- connects parents and caregivers to children’s mental health services in Rhode Island, and helps families determine the best place to go for treatment. With this confidential hotline, parents and caregivers can dial a toll-free number, and be connected with emergency service clinicians or receive direction about the appropriate “next step” for managing their crisis.

“We are so pleased to partner with Bradley Hospital to make the Kids’ Link hotline available,” said Gateway President and CEO Richard Leclerc. “There is nothing more heartbreaking than a child suffering with behavioral health issues, and we want to ensure that access to services is swift and seamless. The Kids’ Link hotline will prove to be an important community resource going forward.”

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to call the hotline on behalf of any child who is:

Feeling excessive anger or sadness
Hurting himself/herself or others
Lashing out at siblings, friends and adults
Having behavior problems at school
Having severe worries

When necessary, evaluations for children are offered at Bradley Hospital and Gateway Healthcare locations. For more information about Kids’Link RI, please visit http://www.bradleyhospital.org/KidsLinkRI.

Bradley Hospital Researchers Find Age-Related Changes in How Autism Affects the Brain

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Newly released findings from Bradley Hospital published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry have found that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect the brain activity of children and adults differently.

In the study, titled “Developmental Meta-Analysis of the Functional Neural Correlates of Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Daniel Dickstein, M.D., FAAP, director of the Pediatric Mood, Imaging and Neurodevelopment Program at Bradley Hospital, found that autism-related changes in brain activity continue into adulthood.

“Our study was innovative because we used a new technique to directly compare the brain activity in children with autism versus adults with autism,” said Dickstein. “We found that brain activity changes associated with autism do not just happen in childhood, and then stop. Instead, our study suggests that they continue to develop, as we found brain activity differences in children with autism compared to adults with autism. This is the first study to show that.”

This new technique, a meta-analysis, which is a study that compiles pre-existing studies, provided researchers with a powerful way to look at potential differences between children and adults with autism.

Dickstein conducted the research through Bradley Hospital’s PediMIND Program. Started in 2007, this program seeks to identify biological and behavioral markers—scans and tests—that will ultimately improve how children and adolescents are diagnosed and treated for psychiatric conditions. Using special computer games and brain scans, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Dickstein hopes to one day make the diagnosis and treatment of autism and other disorders more specific and more effective.

Among autism’s most disabling symptoms is a disruption in social skills, so it is noteworthy that this study found significantly less brain activity in autistic children than autistic adults during social tasks, such as looking at faces. This was true in brain regions including the right hippocampus and superior temporal gyrus—two brain regions associated with memory and other functions.

Dickstein noted, “Brain changes in the hippocampus in children with autism have been found in studies using other types of brain scan, suggesting that this might be an important target for brain-based treatments, including both therapy and medication that might improve how this brain area works.”

Rowland Barrett, Ph.D., chief psychologist at Bradley Hospital and chief-of-service for The Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities was also part of the team leading the study.

“Autism spectrum disorders, including autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), are among the most common and impairing psychiatric conditions affecting children and adolescents today,” said Barrett. “If we can identify the shift in the parts of the brain that autism affects as we age, then we can better target treatments for patients with ASD.”

Tantrums, Meltdowns and Kids Acting Out: What to do?

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST

Almost every parent, teacher, babysitter and caregiver has been in this situation: A child is agitated and acting out, often loudly. But, according to behavioral experts at Bradley Hospital, what many adults assume is simply a spoiled child who is acting out to get his way, may really be a good kid, who is struggling to communicate in that moment. With patience and a few targeted tactics, parents may be able to better understand their children’s triggers, successfully de-escalate the situation, and reduce the likelihood that it will occur again in the future.

“The first, and most important thing, to keep in mind is that when a child throws himself on the floor screaming, he may be trying to tell us something that he does not have words for or he is attempting to get his needs met. It’s our job as the adults to try and figure out what the unmet need is,” says Margaret Paccione-Dyszlewski, PhD, director of the Department of Behavioral Education at Bradley Hospital

Walter Heisler, BS, a behavioral education development specialist from Bradley Hospital adds, “Kids act out because it’s a form of communication that works for them. Often, they don’t want to do the wrong thing, but they just don’t know the right thing to do.”

Paccione-Dyszlewski and Heisler say that all behavior usually happens for one of three reasons:

The child wants something
The child is trying to avoid something
The child is trying to meet a sensory need, such as avoiding a noise or being touched.

“The key to managing many difficult child behaviors is to limit the number of emergency interventions and to maximize the number of proactive interventions,” says Heisler. “In other words, try to intervene at the earliest signs of agitation, before things escalate into a full-blown meltdown .” Often, the first sign of a looming issue is a change or increase in a child’s normal behavior.

So, what happens if a child has escalated and is already in the middle of a meltdown?

“We have all either seen or have been that parent at the grocery store with the screaming, crying child, and it can be maddening - a real helpless feeling” says Paccione-Dyszlewski. “The good news is that there are many strategies parents and caregivers can try to help agitated children de-escalate and become calmer.”

Paccione-Dyszlewski and Heisler offer the following strategies for parents:

Decrease stimulation. Lower the volume on the television or stereo, dim bright lights, minimize commotion/distractions. If possible, ask the child’s siblings and friends to leave the immediate area for a few minutes. Try to dial down the excitement and stimulation.
Validate feelings. Acknowledge that the situation is upsetting to your child. Displaying empathy and understanding reinforces to him that you are there to help.
Encourage verbalization/offer help. Ask the child to talk to you about what is upsetting him so that you can better understand how you can help him. If this conversation cannot happen in the moment, try to set a time for it to happen at a later, calmer time.
Reinforce the positive. Focus on the positive things that your child might be doing, such as making eye contact or using words to express his anger. Even if your child is yelling or using foul language, now is not the best time to address it.
Redirect, exchange, prompt. Tell your child what you want him to do, not what you want him to stop doing. For example, “Please talk to me using an inside voice.” versus “Stop yelling!” You may want to lower your voice to a whisper as you redirect.
Switch-off. If they are available, ask the child if he thinks that he will calm down more easily if another care giver tries to help and you step away for a while. The goal here is to step the difficult behaviors down one notch. Once the crisis is settling, you can return and have a more productive conversation at a later time.
Withhold attention/wait. When all else fails, wait it out. Monitor the child from as far away as safely possible. Let him know that you will be happy to talk with him as soon as he calms down and then make it appear as if you have other things to do.
Don’t rush the process- If you act as if you have all day, the situation is more likely to be better in a few minutes. If you act as if you only have a few minutes, it may just take all day.

“The reaction of the caregiver, both verbally and with body language, can be one of the most important factors in de-escalation,” says Heisler. “For most interventions to be successful, the adult must remain calm, even though the child is not. We can’t control everything that children say and do, but what we do have control over is our own reactions.”

Rather than engaging in a no win power struggle with the child, Heisler recommends staying calm and looking for opportunities to praise appropriate behavior. “If the child sees you as a ‘threat,’ they will likely become more agitated or scared,” says Heisler. As soon as the child begins to calm down, it is usually best to return him back to the normal structure of his routine as soon as it is safe to do so.

Paccione-Dyszlewski offers some final words of encouragement for parents and caregivers. “Remember that de-escalation is a gradual process of trying one small intervention after another, gauging the child’s reaction and then figuring out what to try next. Unlike the zero to 60 mph manner in which the behavior went out of control, we can’t expect to flip a switch and completely end a tantrum. As difficult as it may be, try to stay out of the emotions of the moment and think of the de-escalation process as a chess game. You can do it!” she says.

Bradley Hospital Offers Help to Local Children Struggling With Grief and Fear

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 EST

Bradley Hospital understands that some children may be significantly affected by the recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut. For children having difficulty coping with this tragedy, Bradley Hospital has put in place a crisis hotline, at 1-855-543-5465, which is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Parents, teachers and caregivers can call the hotline to be referred to an appropriate resource for assistance.

Lifespan Updates Governance Structure, Names New Board Members

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EST

Structure streamlines separate boards into a single entity

Bradley Hospital Welcomes New Chief Nursing Officer

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EST

Vareen O’Keefe Domaleski, RN, MSN, EdD, has been named chief nursing officer (CNO) of Bradley Hospital. In her new role, O’Keefe Domaleski will oversee the nursing staff within Bradley Hospital’s many programs and services, as well as guide strategic planning, nursing practice and quality.

“With more than 30 years of experience in psychiatric nursing, as well as more than 20 years in behavioral health management roles, Vareen is an outstanding addition to the Bradley Hospital family,” said Daniel Wall, president and CEO of Bradley Hospital. “She is an excellent match to the Bradley Hospital culture as she always keeps the focus on four things -- what is best for patient care, looking at outcomes, patient satisfaction, and family involvement.”

O’Keefe Domaleski joins Bradley Hospital from Brattleboro Retreat in Vermont, a 149-bed psychiatric and substance abuse hospital serving children, adolescents and adults in acute, partial and residential levels of care. She has also held senior level positions at Hampstead Hospital in New Hampshire; Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore, Md.; and McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass.

O’Keefe Domaleski received her registered nurse diploma from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass., followed by a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Worcester State College in Worcester, Mass. She later received her master’s degree in administration in nursing services from the University of Lowell in Lowell, Mass. and a doctoral degree in human and organizational studies from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. O’Keefe Domaleski is also a Johnson & Johnson/Wharton Fellow in nurse executive management.

Bradley Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital Collaborate to Open New Medical Psychiatric In-patient Program

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EST

To treat children diagnosed with both a medical and psychiatric illness, Bradley Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital have launched a new unit designed specifically to manage both conditions. The new Medical Psychiatric In-patient Program, the first of its kind in the region, will be located in Hasbro Children’s Hospital and is for children and adolescents from six to 18 years old.

The program brings together Bradley Hospital’s expertise as the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children with the cutting-edge pediatrics care provided by Hasbro Children’s Hospital, one of the region’s most robust medical facilities.

“Many children who have a known chronic illness, as well as a psychiatric issue, are in and out of the hospital constantly because it’s difficult to provide care that encompasses all of their needs,” said Henry Sachs, M.D., chief medical officer at Bradley Hospital. “These are kids who cannot fully ‘get better’ until we give them all of the treatment they need at once – to put the whole health of the child in focus and end the cycle.”

The Medical/Psychiatric Program is expressly designed for children and adolescents with both acute mental health and medical conditions who require hospitalization, such as the nearly 20 percent of adolescents with diabetes who have also been diagnosed with depression.

“Experience has shown us that children with anxiety or depression are inhibited in their ability to heal from medical conditions,” said Robert Klein, M.D., Hasbro Children’s Hospital pediatrician-in-chief. “For the first time, Bradley Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital have combined the expertise of both hospitals to give these children the environment of care they truly need.”

Patients are treated in a newly renovated, secure eight-bed unit located on the 6th floor of Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The safe, comfortable environment offers both private and semi-private rooms and areas for family, group and milieu therapy.

The program and its philosophy mirror that of the Hasbro Children’s Partial Hospital Program, which provides intensive care for children and adolescents with both mental health and medical conditions in a day program setting. This new program will serve similar patients with diagnoses including gastrointestinal illnesses, eating disorders, diabetes, asthma, seizures, pain syndromes and somatoform disorders, but who require in-patient care.

The program is staffed by a multidisciplinary team that includes child psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced practice psychiatric nurse, social workers, pediatric nurses knowledgeable in child psychiatric and pediatric care, mental health workers, pediatricians and pediatric specialists as needed.

For more information on this program, please visit www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org/med-psych , or contact the Hasbro Children’s Partial Hospitalization Program at 401-444-8638, where clinicians can assess and triage each case for appropriate level and location of care.

Bradley Hospital Opens New Children’s Partial Hospital Program

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EST

Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, recently launched the latest in its cadre of innovative programs – the Children’s Partial Hospital Program (CPHP). This specialized day program provides comprehensive evaluation and intensive treatment for children ages seven through 12, and their families who are experiencing severely disruptive behavior that limits the family’s ability to function.

According to program director Anne Walters, Ph.D., the primary goal of the program is to help children safely live at home while offering them and their families the opportunity to work on emotional, social, and behavioral difficulties that occur at home and in the community.

“For children who are having severe emotional or behavioral difficulties, it can be difficult for them to compound that with staying away from home to receive in-patient treatment,” said Walters. “This program allows children to receive comprehensive care during the day, five days per week, while still allowing them to be at home with their families each night and on weekends, putting the tools they have learned in the program each day to use at home interacting with their families.”

Walters and her team of psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, special education teachers and milieu therapists worked together to create a unique, evidence based program that will fill a critical need in the community.

The CPHP operates Monday through Friday during the hours of a typical school day, so children are dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon by a parent, just as would happen at school. The program focuses on family-centered treatment by encouraging parent participation in each child’s evaluation and treatment, as well as requiring twice-weekly family therapy sessions, and offering a multi-family group as well.

The Children’s Partial Hospital Program joins two other partial hospital programs already offered by Bradley Hospital, a pediatric program for children up to age six and an adolescent program for 13 to 18 year olds.

For more information about the Children’s Partial Hospitalization Program at Bradley Hospital, please visit www.bradleyhospital.org or call 401-432-1407.