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11/12/2021 | 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM
The Trauma Recovery Clinic: Integrated Care to Complete a Pro-active Behavioral Health Service for Trauma Surgery Patients
Title: The Trauma Recovery Clinic: Integrated Care to Complete a Pro-active Behavioral Health Service for Trauma Surgery Patients
Abstract
Background
Trauma Recovery Clinic (TRC) was developed to meet the psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial needs of traumatically injured patients following discharge from a level one trauma center by drawing upon proven best practices. The objective of this study was to assess the utilization of clinic services and evaluate efficacy of these services to reduce symptoms of mental health conditions in patients treated at the TRC.
Methods
Patients with history of in-patient treatment for a physically-traumatic injury at this level one trauma center were approached and enrolled at initial TRC outpatient appointments. Measures collected data on both mental health, including the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), as well as health behaviors, including the Attitudes towards Guns scale and the Youth Behavior Risk Survey (questions about weapon carrying practices).
Results
A total of 80 patients were included in this study. Results demonstrate significant reduction in symptom burden among patients who remained engaged in treatment, and specifically among patients of color. No baseline differences were observed in PCL-C or PHQ-9 score. Across the first six treatment visits, Black patients experienced a decrease in PCL-C nearly 4 times greater than that of White patients (15.9 vs. 4.4, p=0.04). No difference was observed in change in PHQ-9 over treatment, by race (p >0.05). At baseline, patients who carried weapons had PCL-C scores approximately 15 points higher than peer participants (p< 0.0001); this difference resolved by treatment visit 6 (p=0.94).
Discussion
This evaluation of services at the recently-implemented Trauma Recovery Clinic demonstrated that the clinic is successfully treating individuals who have experienced traumatic injuries. More specifically, the clinic services are effectively engaging with a vulnerable, hard-to-reach patient population.
Abstract
Background
Trauma Recovery Clinic (TRC) was developed to meet the psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial needs of traumatically injured patients following discharge from a level one trauma center by drawing upon proven best practices. The objective of this study was to assess the utilization of clinic services and evaluate efficacy of these services to reduce symptoms of mental health conditions in patients treated at the TRC.
Methods
Patients with history of in-patient treatment for a physically-traumatic injury at this level one trauma center were approached and enrolled at initial TRC outpatient appointments. Measures collected data on both mental health, including the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), as well as health behaviors, including the Attitudes towards Guns scale and the Youth Behavior Risk Survey (questions about weapon carrying practices).
Results
A total of 80 patients were included in this study. Results demonstrate significant reduction in symptom burden among patients who remained engaged in treatment, and specifically among patients of color. No baseline differences were observed in PCL-C or PHQ-9 score. Across the first six treatment visits, Black patients experienced a decrease in PCL-C nearly 4 times greater than that of White patients (15.9 vs. 4.4, p=0.04). No difference was observed in change in PHQ-9 over treatment, by race (p >0.05). At baseline, patients who carried weapons had PCL-C scores approximately 15 points higher than peer participants (p< 0.0001); this difference resolved by treatment visit 6 (p=0.94).
Discussion
This evaluation of services at the recently-implemented Trauma Recovery Clinic demonstrated that the clinic is successfully treating individuals who have experienced traumatic injuries. More specifically, the clinic services are effectively engaging with a vulnerable, hard-to-reach patient population.
Authors
Speakers
Erich Conrad
Professor of Psychiatry LSU Health Sciences Center
Erich Conrad M.D. is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and is the Vice Chair for Hospital Psychiatry. He is the Program Director for the LSU-Ochsner Consultation-Liaison Fellowship. He also serves as the Service Line Director for Behavioral Health at the University Medical Center, New Orleans and is the Director of the Spirit of Charity Trauma Center Psychiatry Research Unit.
Erika Rajo
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry LSU Health Sciences Center
Erika M. Rajo, PsyD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Louisiana, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at LSU Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC), Director of the Trauma Recovery Clinic at University Medical Center, New Orleans (UMCNO), and Co-Director of the Spirit of Charity Trauma Center Psychiatry Research Unit. Dr. Rajo earned a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, MD then assisted with various projects in the Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Unit at Johns Hopkins University before heading cross country to Pepperdine University in Southern California, where she earned a Doctor of Psychology degree in Clinical Psychology. She then returned home to New Orleans, completing both her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship training at LSUHSC. Throughout her training, Dr. Rajo alternated between working with children and adults with a focus on trauma, health psychology, and integrated care. In her current role as the Trauma Psychologist at UMCNO, Dr. Rajo utilizes her expertise in the assessment and treatment of psychological trauma to coordinate the Trauma Recovery Team’s provision of inpatient/outpatient clinical services and related research studies, all of which aim to help patients and their loved ones cope with the psychological sequelae of traumatic injury. In addition to the treatment of PTSD following traumatic injury, Dr. Rajo’s clinical and research interests include multicultural issues in mental health treatment, clinical supervision, and increasing access to treatment for underserved populations.
Kaylin Beiter
Student Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Kaylin is an MD-PhD student at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.
Jennifer Hughes
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology LSU Health Sciences Center
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Sarah Stuart
Resident LSU Health Sciences Center
Sarah Stuart is a resident at Louisiana State University and Ochsner Psychiatry Adult residency program in New Orleans, LA.
Chikira Barker
Research Coordinator LSU Health Sciences Center
Chikira H. Barker, MA is a program manager and clinical research coordinator with the Department of Psychiatry at LSU Health Sciences Center- New Orleans. In her position at LSUHSC, Ms. Barker has focused on applied clinical and research efforts in the area of community disasters, trauma, and treatment-resistant depression within the school, hospital, and outpatient clinic setting. In addition to research efforts, Ms. Barker also engages in behavioral health training and outreach for the gulf coast of Louisiana.
Outpatient Consultation Brief Oral Papers
Category
General Sessions
Description
CE Hours
Presenting Author
Erich Conrad
Professor of Psychiatry | LSU Health Sciences Center
Erich Conrad M.D. is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and is the Vice Chair for Hospital Psychiatry. He is the Program Director for the LSU-Ochsner Consultation-Liaison Fellowship. He also serves as the Service Line Director for Behavioral Health at the University Medical Center, New Orleans and is the Director of the Spirit of Charity Trauma Center Psychiatry Research Unit.
