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Psychiatric Services: Mental Health Care

The MUSC Institute of Psychiatry offers patients, caregivers, and their professional providers access to the latest evidence-based practices and advances in research. The IOP has been named Hospital of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Health South Carolina chapter four out of the last five times one was named.

MUSC Institute of Psychiatry Locations & Contact Information

The MUSC Health Institute of Psychiatry is conveniently located in downtown Charleston on the main MUSC campus. Services are also offered at several satellite offices throughout the area.

Locations

Contact Us

For Mental HealthProfessionals

If you are a medical or educational professional looking to refer a patient to the MUSC Health Institute of Psychiatry, the following information will be of help.

Clinical Neurobiology Laboratory

The Clinical Neurobiology Laboratory focuses on blood and urine testing that has direct interest to Psychiatric and Addiction Specialists and meets all regulatory standards, including CLIA. We are licensed to serve the states of New York, Florida, and California.

Employee Assistance Program

The MUSC Health Employee Assistance Program is a work site-based program designed to assist organizations in addressing productivity issues, as well as assisting employees in identifying and resolving personal and occupational concerns that may affect job performance.

Continuing Education

The outstanding work of the Institute of Psychiatry and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences' Office of Continuing Education has been recognized for its unusually strong combination of research, education, and clinical care.

Patient & Family Information about Psychiatric Health & Services

Patient Family Partnership Council

MUSC established an IOP Patient Family Partnership Council that consists of four family members and four consumers, each having first-hand experience with mental illness and/or addiction, who serve on IOP Patient Satisfaction Team, Admission Criteria Task Force and participate in IOP New Employee Orientation. The group facilitated Crisis Intervention Training for MUSC Safety & Security staff and a weekly spiritual support group for IOP inpatients. They were featured in the MUSC Catalyst and the Post & Courier, helping to destigmatize mental illness.

Our Vision & Mission

The MUSC Patient Family Partnership Council seeks to enhance the delivery of patient and family-centered care (see below) through a partnership between patients and families, and doctors and staff. Our vision is to achieve a level of care where patient and family involvement is expected and welcomed by all. The Patient Family Partnership Council will encourage two-way communication between patients and families, and doctors and staff, in an environment of trust and respect.

Membership

Patients and family members from MUSC are eligible to become members of the Council. Members should be committed to building a partnership to understand the needs of the patients and families they represent and to implement programs and policies to address health care challenges within MUSC. Each council member must submit an application and be interviewed. The Council shall strive to create a membership that reflects the diversity of the MUSC patient population in terms of medical diagnoses, geographic areas, and cultural diversity. For more information or if you would like to become a member, please contact Bryan Counts.

Patient & Family-Centered Care

What Is Patient Family Centered Care?

Patient and family-centered care is not just about “being nice” or “patient satisfaction”.

It is an approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care that is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among Health care providers, patients, and families. Patient and family centered care is an approach to Health care that shapes policies, programs, facility design, and day-to-day interactions of staff.

What Are the Core Concepts of Patient & Family Centered Care?

  • Respect and dignity: We listen to and honor patient and family perspectives and choices. The expertise, preferences, and culture of each individual and family are valued.
  • Information Sharing: We communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful. Patients and families receive timely, complete, and accurate information in order to effectively participate in care and decision-making.
  • Participation: Patients and families are encouraged and supported in participating in care and decision-making at the level they choose.
  • Collaboration: We collaborate with patients and families in policy and program development, implementation, and evaluation; in health care facility design; and in professional education, as well as in the delivery of care.

Patient and Family Centered Care recognizes that the relationship between patients, families, and providers is an essential collaboration. This collaborative approach to care leads to better health outcomes, wiser allocation of resources, and greater patient and family satisfaction

What Is Meant by the Word "Family"?

The word "family" refers to two or more persons who are related in any way—biologically, legally, or emotionally. Family is defined by the patient. Family members are encouraged to be involved and are essential to the overall well-being of the patient. Visitors are guests of the patient or family. In some cases, visitors may be relatives.

MUSC Patient Family Partnership Councils

Individuals serving as patient or family partners should reflect a range of experiences within the hospital and should be representative of the community served. Council members must be able to:

  • Share insights and information about their experiences in ways that others can learn from them.
  • See beyond their own personal experience and show concern for more than one issue or agenda.
  • Listen well and respect the perspectives of others.
  • Speak comfortably and candidly in a group.
  • Interact well with many different kinds of people and work in partnerships with others.

Research, Education, & Training

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina currently ranks seventh in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among Departments of Psychiatry, and is home to a number of nationally recognized clinicians, researchers, and programs.

Research

Basic science. Clinical trials. Translational research. SCTR funding.

Education & Training

Medical students. Residencies and fellowships. Clinical psychology. Continuing education.