This past summer Bost made some changes to best serve individuals in our care who have both intellectual disabilities and mental health needs.  We looked to a local staple to provide these beneficial mental health services.  Our reliance on the experts at The Guidance Center allows us to focus on what we do best, providing services and supports to individuals with disabilities in our community, while The Guidance Center ensures mental health needs are met!

 

To assure a smooth transition and no lapse in care, the Bost Nursing Department, led by Jarrod McClain, moved from the Elvin and Sally Frick Bost Community Center to the Marilyn Foster Complex to oversee the logistics of The Guidance Center partnership.  A process was developed where two therapists perform telehealth sessions each week and we have the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or APRN, each Thursday for medication management.  While it was a challenge in the beginning to coordinate with The Guidance Center on dates, times, therapists, and consumers/families/staff schedules, we have it down to a science.  All involved know who to contact if there are any issues and the importance of arriving on or ahead of time is understood.  To increase efficiencies further, a process was developed to get vital statistics ahead of the appointment, saving more time for therapies.  The move has also had the bonus of allowing the staff in the Nursing Department to be more involved with the day-to-day services being provided at the Foster Complex.

While The Guidance Center therapists have been coming to the Marilyn Foster Complex in Fort Smith for all medication management and therapy sessions, at the beginning of January they will start expanding their care.  Once this expansion is completed and deemed successful in one area, we hope to expand to all Bost locations so that those served by Bost can choose to have their behavioral health needs met in a way that allows for a better continuum of care.

Jarrod McClain is thankful for the support from all areas of Bost, as a change of this magnitude takes a lot of coordination.  “We have come a long way in the past two and a half months since we became involved with behavioral health/medication management!”  We at Bost are grateful for this beneficial relationship with The Guidance Center, and especially for Jarrod’s diligence, attention to detail, and unwavering care for those we serve.  He, and his staff, are a true asset to Bost and our community!