Where COVID and SMI Intersect: Inpatient Models of Care and Workforce Impacts-Presentation and Q&A

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, experts discuss the intersection of COVID and serious mental illness (SMI), inpatient models of care, and workforce impacts. They explain that the COVID pandemic has brought significant changes to the field of geriatric psychiatry, with a shift to virtual care for outpatient services and restricted inpatient care due to infection risks. They discuss the challenges in finding beds for dementia patients and the impact of pandemic-related disruptions on geriatric inpatient care. They also highlight the positive aspects of telemedicine, such as increased access to care for older adults and the ability to provide services to underserved areas. The experts emphasize the need for innovative approaches to address the mental health needs of individuals with SMI and the importance of scaling up psychiatric services. They also discuss the long-term impact of COVID on mental health and the need for further research and data gathering in this area. Finally, they highlight the need for support and recognize the grief and trauma experienced by healthcare workers and the broader population. They suggest the importance of group therapy in addressing mental health issues and encourage advocacy and leadership in the field to address the challenges caused by the pandemic.

Keywords

COVID

serious mental illness

inpatient models of care

geriatric psychiatry

virtual care

telemedicine

access to care

underserved areas

mental health

healthcare workers