Louisville VA Medical Center
The Veterans Administration Medical Center, located three miles east of the Health Sciences Center, is fully integrated with the University of Louisville. It has 176 operating beds, of which 25 are psychiatric beds. In addition to the acute psychiatry inpatient unit, the Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service operates an active mental health outpatient clinic at an off-site location. In 1995, the VA Psychiatry Service merged with the Psychology Service to form the Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service, and a major reorganization in the delivery of mental health services was implemented to enhance both comprehensive care across disciplines and the continuity of care from inpatient to outpatient.
Inpatient Psychiatry
Inpatient Psychiatry Unit offers the resident experience in dealing with severely ill patients with a wide variety of psychiatric disorders. Emphasis is placed on group psychotherapy, occupational therapy and recreational activities. Multidisciplinary teams include a staff psychiatrist, two residents, medical students, psychologists, social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, and a recreation therapist. In addition to daily rounds, each team meets several times a week to discuss new admissions, patient progress and treatment or discharge plans. A weekly case conference is also held at the VA Dupont Clinic site. The caseload for residents averages 8 patients. Research activities are carried out by the psychiatric staff, and interested residents are invited to participate.
Outpatient Psychiatry
Outpatient treatment is conducted at the VA Dupont Clinic, located approximately 10 minutes from the Hospital. There are more than 16,000 patient visits per year. Residents in their third year of clinical training are assigned to the clinic. The Outpatient Clinic offers long term follow up for patients referred from inpatient psychiatric services or eligible patients referred from other services. Family therapy, individual psychotherapy, group therapy and medication monitoring are frequently used treatment modalities. A weekly case conference is held for both inpatient and outpatient treatment staff, faculty, residents and medical students.
