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Departments and Services > Geriatric Medical-Psychiatric Programs
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There is good news for seniors suffering from depression and anxiety, according to David Harnett, MD, chief of psychiatry for Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH). Help is available.
"There is a lot we can do to improve the quality of life for seniors, and at LMH we're committed to making a difference with a unique approach that is not found elsewhere in the area."
Since the first inpatient medical psychiatric unit for older adults opened at LMH in 1986, Dr. Harnett has pioneered a whole-person approach to treating mental disorders.
"Among older patients," he said, "one of the biggest challenges is unraveling complicated histories of illness and sorting out medical from psychiatric conditions."
In the two inpatient units, Dr. Harnett heads a team of psychiatrists, internal medicine specialists, psychiatric and
medical nurses, occupational therapists, and social workers.
One of the benefits of LMH's whole-person approach is that it combines medical care with psychiatric treatment in a way that standard psychiatric units are unable to match.
For example, a depressed 80-year-old patient who is not eating may become dehydrated and need fluids intravenously. These problems can be managed simultaneously, thanks to LMH's highly trained staff and well-equipped facilities.
Dr. Harnett is optimistic about new drug combinations that target both physical pain and depression. "We have new, safer medicines with fewer side effects for senior citizens. The anti-depressant drugs today are much more 'senior friendly' - less sedating and less likely to cause falls and confusion."
"Seniors and their families are becoming more comfortable broaching the subject of depression with their doctor," added Dr. Harnett. "Opening these doors of communication is an important first step."
For an appointment with geriatric psychiatrist David Harnett, MD, or his colleagues, call (781) 306-6155.
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Hallmark Health's Geriatric Medical-Psychiatric Programs specialize in providing evaluation and treatment of psychiatric disorders in the geriatric population and patients with acute/chronic medical problems.
Through these programs, families will benefit from the complete continuum of care, including:
- Open inpatient unit
- Secure inpatient unit
- Partial hospitalization program
- Adult day health program
- Nursing home consultation service
- Psychiatric consultation
- Service for medical and surgical inpatients
- Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT)
- Outpatient Psychiatric Care
- Geriatric Medical-Psychiatric Programs
- 18-bed open and 16-bed secure units
- Diagnoses include late-life depression, psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression in patients with acute and chronic medical problems, delirium and dementia-related behavioral disturbances
- Core disciplines: psychiatry, internal medicine, psychiatric and medical nursing, occupational therapy, social work
- Consultant disciplines: medical/surgical subspecialties, neurology, neuropsychology, physical/speech therapy, dietary/nutrition, among others
- Interventions: psychiatric diagnostic and medical evaluation, psychopharmacologic assessment, ECT, psychotherapy, milieu/behavioral treatment, family collaboration, discharge planning, referrals and consultation with outside healthcare providers
- Length-of-stay: tailored to individual patient's needs (average 12 days)
- Referrals/further information:
Intake Coordinator
Phone: (781) 306-6155
Fax: (781) 306-6173
(Acute Psychiatric Day Hospital)
- Location: 200 Governors Avenue, Medford, MA 02155 (Ground floor rear of the Courtyard Nursing Care Center)
- Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 2:30 pm
- Free transportation available from surrounding communities
- Treatment: Intensive, multidisciplinary program with group, individual, family and psychopharmacologic treatments
- Insurance: Medicare and many managed-care programs accepted
- Referrals: Please call (781) 306-6155
- Structured day programs for seniors (psychiatric diagnosis not needed)
- Location: 1117 Main Street, Wakefield, MA 01880
- Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Transportation available
- Referrals/information: (781) 246-2820
- Provided by psychiatric nurse clinical specialist and geriatric psychiatrist
- Psychopharmacologic intervention, behavioral management, psychotherapy
- OBRA compliance
- Provided by Lawrence Memorial Hospital psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse clinical specialists
- Referrals: Routine consultations, call (781) 306-6160; Off-hours and weekend/holiday consultation, call (781) 306-6150
- Inpatient and outpatient ECT
- ECT consultation and evaluation available for patients and family
- Thorough medical clearance and performance-improvement program
- Referrals: Anthony Weiner, MD, Director, (781) 306-6162
- Memory disorder assessment
- Evaluation and treatment of depression, anxiety and behavioral disturbance
- Family participation encouraged
- Opportunity to participate in research trials (complementary medication, assessments and medical evaluation)
- Referrals: David Harnett, MD, (781) 306-6160, or Samir Patel, MD, (781) 306-6165
- Adults and children (over age 12)
- Individual, family and group psychotherapy
- Psychopharmacologic treatment
- Location: 101 Main St., Suite 112, Medford, Massachusetts
- Phone: (781) 396-1806
- Referrals: (781) 979-3315
- David S. Harnett, MD,
Chief of Psychiatry and Medical Director
Inpatient Medical-Psychiatric Units
- Susan Donaldson, MD
- Marc Frader, MD
- Michael Hanau, MD
- Paul McLean, MD
- Lakshmi Mudunuri, MD
- Samir Patel, MD
- James Smith, MD
- Anthony Weiner, MD
Geriatric Medical-Psychiatric Programs
Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford
170 Governors Avenue
Medford, MA 02155
Phone: (781) 306-6160
Fax: (781) 306-6146
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