Open House Scheduled for Newly-Expanded Behavioral Health Service

Philadelphia, PA, October 7, 2003 – Belmont Behavioral Health has expanded a program to better serve the behavioral health needs of older adults living in the Germantown and surrounding communities. The Germantown Community Intensive Outpatient Program recently opened on the campus of Germantown Community Health Services, One Penn Boulevard, Suite 100, in the Center Tower Building. It was previously located at Bethesda Court in Germantown. An Open House for the community to tour the new facility and meet the staff is scheduled for Monday, October 13, 3 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 215-951-8154.

The Germantown Community Intensive Outpatient Program is a therapeutic program for men and women age 55 and older who live at home or in assisted living. They may be depressed or anxious, grieving the loss of a loved one, struggling with health problems, or adjusting to changes in their roles or living situations. The program is staffed with a team of professionals trained in geriatrics and is led by a board-certified psychiatrist. Clients receive a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, ongoing treatment and monitoring, and medication management.

The daily program consists of two group therapy sessions run by masters-level trained psychotherapists, who focus on coping skills and stress management. “I’m so pleased that we offer a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches, since they’re all effective in helping our clients learn how to connect and support each other,” says Paula Brown, MCAT.DTR, the Unit Coordinator. “We offer small groups of eight to ten which makes it easier for clients to bond with each other and work through their issues and problems,” Brown adds. The Germantown Intensive Outpatient Program is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Patients come to the program from one to three days per week based on their needs, and they attend the program from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., with lunch provided. The cost of the program is covered by Medicare and most supplemental insurance plans. The community is invited to the Open House on October 13 to find out more about the program and see the facility.

Belmont Behavioral Health, part of the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, is one of the largest, most comprehensive behavioral health systems in Philadelphia. Belmont Behavioral Health treats a wide variety of emotional and psychiatric problems, including substance abuse, eating disorders, depression and anxiety disorders, among others.

Publish date: October 7, 2003