OVERVIEW

The Mental Health Professional in Long-Term Care Course is organized by Professional Development Resources (PDR), Inc.

Accreditation:
CE Credit: 2 Hours

Course Description:
The Mental Health Professional in Long-Term Care is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that provides an overview of services in skilled nursing facilities for the psychotherapist new to this setting.

As the population of the United States ages, more and more healthcare professionals find themselves treating elders. Schools, private practice, and hospitals will always be a major practice setting, but the demographics of our country point to a growing need for geriatric treatment. In 2014 there were an estimated 1.5 million people in 16,000 skilled nursing facilities. By 2030 this number may be as high as 2.6 million. There will be a significantly increased need for the services of psychotherapists to provide treatment in skilled nursing facilities in the years to come.

Every practice setting has unique characteristics that affect clinical practice. Skilled nursing facilities have a multitude of regulations, complicated billing practices, and a culture of care that must be learned and integrated into the clinician’s treatment habits. This can make it difficult for the clinician working part-time or PRN in long-term care. This course will provide a framework for providing care in a skilled nursing facility. It is intended to give the clinician an overview of the important aspects of long-term care that affect treatment, including the structure, organization and reimbursement system of skilled nursing facilities. The average resident and common treatment areas will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
• List three rights of residents in long-term care
• Describe the average skilled nursing facility resident
• Name the top two persons in the skilled nursing facility administration structure
• Describe three safety issues in long-term care
• Describe a strategy to address unwanted behavior in a person with dementia