What began as an overnight facillity is now a walk-in clinic for people with mental issues. There are eight exam rooms where staff can evaluate each patient as they come in.
The Day Stabilization Clinic at SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital has made some changes to its format as a place for walk-in mental health assistance.
The clinic opened its doors in January to provide a location where a patient could come in and stay for up to 23 hours in the midst of a mental crisis to receive assessment, brief therapy and discharge planning where they can be stabilized and safely return to the community.
As a part of ongoing evaluation and growth, the hospital moved to a walk-in model where individuals can come to the hospital, hospital emergency department or through a professional referral source to access the services during daytime hours, seven days a week.
SSM Health Director of Behavioral Health Services Tiffany Parker said that the overnight usage was low and daytime hours enabled the clinic full access to the breadth of behavioral health services. To reflect that change, she noted the clinic has been renamed “SSM Health Behavioral Health Walk-in Clinic.” The new name more accurately reflects the services and processes now in place.
“The SSM Health Behavioral Health Walk-in Clinic also is being complemented by new free SSM Health virtual behavioral health services, to be implemented in early 2024,” Parker said. “This new service will offer an additional option for individuals experiencing a variety of mental health challenges.”
TIFFANY PARKER
Mental health affects one in five Americans, according to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, which equates to some 51 million people, Parker said.
“Once a patient arrives at our clinic, they will register and meet with a nurse for an initial assessment,” SSM Health Senior Communications Specialist Shelly Haberman said. “Depending on the reason for the visit, patients may be further evaluated or assessed by a psychotherapist or medical provider. The treatment team will address urgent concerns, help make follow-up appointments and assist with additional resources or inpatient admission as needed.”
Amy Bayer, a psychotherapist with SSM Health Behavioral Health Walk-in Clinic listens to a patient during an evaluation at the clinic to determine what therapies can be used, or where the patient can go for additional services.
“We’re excited to offer this service to our community because it provides people access to care immediately,” Parker added. “We know there are incredible benefits and risk reduction if we are able to get individuals more timely care. The quicker they are able to get those services and resources to de-escalate, the more likely they are to be successful.”
The service is available to adults over the age of 18 who experience concerns related to mental health, which may include depression, mood disturbances, anxiety, stress and substance abuse relapse prevention accompanied by mental health concerns. Help is provided in a one-on-one setting.
“Our behavioral health team has closely followed all developments with this new service and are adapting to ensure we are meeting the needs of the population we serve,” Parker said. “Identifying gaps in mental health services remains a strong focus for our team.”
The clinic does not replace a patient’s current established provider, Parker said, but rather serves as a resource for urgent care needs while in transition to establishing long-term care. Most major insurance plans are accepted to pay for the program, including Medicare and Medicaid.
The clinic was set up on the strength of a $158,000 Healthcare Infrastructure Capital grant from the Department of Administration on behalf of the state of Wisconsin, which enabled renovations to begin in August 2022. A $75,000 grant from the Foundation for Ripon Community Hospital has helped with and will continue to help with patient transportation needs.
“While there is a significant need for critical mental health and substance abuse services, we are seeing gaps where many individuals identify as being in crisis, but don’t meet inpatient levels of care,” Parker said. “For those who do meet the level of care currently, psychiatry and outpatient mental health services could have wait lists which are six to eight months or longer. Individuals on these wait lists often report heightened symptoms.”
The clinic can see up to as many as eight patients at a time, but with the flexibility of the hospital and emergency department nearby, there has not been a problem with patient care.
“So far, we have not had to turn anyone away,” Parker said. “Our goal is to assist individuals in resolving their crisis and make appropriate community connections for ongoing services.”
For more information on immediate care, call 920-745-3850, or walk into the hospital or emergency department at SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital, 845 Parkside St. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.