behavioral health clinic job

[clarkbar]

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What is the main role of a pharmacist and what particular drugs and labs must one be familiar with with such work? It has both inpatient and outpatient services.

 

[johnpharm01]

I imagine you are going to see alcohol and opiate overdose/ withdrawl and maintenance treatment of these and other addictions. Also other mental health issues. But this a better question for your potential employer as the answer to your question depends on how clinical your role is.

Lock your car doors when you go into work.

 

[beautifulrobot]

I would pick up a copy of the CPNP BCPP prep book to get a comprehensive overview of knowledge expected of a psych pharmacist. Some common things expected from psych/BH pharmacists include being able to manage clozapine and navigate the clozapine REMS program, monitor drug levels for lithium and VPA, know all the regulations and how to manage MAT for opiate addiction, and know how to initiate long acting injectable antipsychotics and switch from one LAI to another. You'll want to be familiar with, at the very least, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, sedatives, and stimulants. Since you have both inpt and outpt responsibilites, you may have to deal with transitions of care as well, and you may also have some P&T/formulary management responsibilities. If this is a VA/DOD site, you'll want to brush up on PTSD drug therapy guidelines. If there are peds involved, you'll probably want to brush up on ADHD treatment guidelines, as well as be aware of which APs are approved for use in pediatrics. There are many other things that fall under the realm of psych pharmacy - you may want to get some more information from your potential employer or provide more details to us. Good luck!

 

[clarkbar]

How much would normal acute care factor in? Would such a hospital be able to service DVT, stroke and have proper lab equipment c/s, MRI, etc.? What age and complications do the pt. pop. tend to have? Basically, what breadth of healthcare will pop-up in a behavioral health hospital, say of 30 beds, non-gov.? How is truncated the formulary is to be expected??

 

[beautifulrobot]

The answer to those questions are really going to be facility-specific... But typically, no, you don't deal with acute medical issues in a behavioral health unit/hospital. In terms of non-psych medications, you typically have to deal with medications related to chronic medical conditions. Age really depends on the facility - some are adults only, some have pediatric units, some have geriatric units...

 

[johnpharm01]

How much would normal acute care factor in? Would such a hospital be able to service DVT, stroke and have proper lab equipment c/s, MRI, etc.? What age and complications do the pt. pop. tend to have? Basically, what breadth of healthcare will pop-up in a behavioral health hospital, say of 30 beds, non-gov.? How is truncated the formulary is to be expected??

I would think the behavioral health clinic would be staffed by pas nurses psychologists and psychiatrists and anyone who is medically unstable would be transferred to a facility with acute care. My best guess is that the behavorial health clinic is there to detox, initiate treatment for substance use disorders and stabilize their mental health issues. There will probably be a lot of repeat patients. I imagine you can expect to see all age groups, maybe less older folks as addiction takes its toll on ones health and causes premature ageing.

I think it maybe a great opportunity to help people who really need it.

 

[clarkbar]

I would think the behavioral health clinic would be staffed by pas nurses psychologists and psychiatrists and anyone who is medically unstable would be transferred to a facility with acute care. My best guess is that the behavorial health clinic is there to detox, initiate treatment for substance use disorders and stabilize their mental health issues. There will probably be a lot of repeat patients. I imagine you can expect to see all age groups, maybe less older folks as addiction takes its toll on ones health and causes premature ageing.

I think it maybe a great opportunity to help people who really need it.

How is that determined, that they should be transferred? For instance, wbc, ESR, prolactin, etc.? What kind of labs are used in such a hospital? I'm worried about acute care skills going rusty. How would a behavioral hospital job be considered in relation to acute hospital care?

 

[johnpharm01]

How is that determined, that they should be transferred? For instance, wbc, ESR, prolactin, etc.? What kind of labs are used in such a hospital? I'm worried about acute care skills going rusty. How would a behavioral hospital job be considered in relation to acute hospital care?

Behavorial health, mental health are different realms then primary care. If I had a problem with drinking I would go to a behavorial health clinic, if my diabetes was out of control I would go see my pcp. I am sure that the facility has guidelines on transfers and the medical and nursing staff worry about this not pharmacy.

You would be using a different skill set, but labs are still utililized: CBC, LFTs, drug levels i.e. drugs of abuse, TSH.

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[beautifulrobot]

How is that determined, that they should be transferred? For instance, wbc, ESR, prolactin, etc.? What kind of labs are used in such a hospital? I'm worried about acute care skills going rusty. How would a behavioral hospital job be considered in relation to acute hospital care?

you would probably have to moonlight somewhere else to keep up with medical acute care pharmacy skills. you don't really see much in terms of IVs in behavioral health, for one thing. Besides things like managing withdrawal/detox and agitation, you don't deal too much with acute meds. You will still need to know how to interpret labs like WBC, CBC, prolactin, etc. - there's a lot of lab monitoring done with antipsychotic meds in particular. EKG monitoring happens quite a bit in psych as well.

 

[fishpharm83]

I'm selling a brand new unused 2018-2019 Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Review book (the one published by CPNP) if anyone is interested.