Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Behavioral Health Hospital has launched a new program to provide more intensive behavioral health care for inpatient and outpatient patients who need more support than traditional psychiatric care.
The program, called the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), will operate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday at the TGH Behavioral Health Hospital.
“There is a gap between inpatient and outpatient care with mental health, and it’s a large step with no intermediate care,” said Dr. Ryan Wagoner, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “The PHP program allows you to take steps down. We will take them from being in the hospital to being seen every day of the week for several days.”
The program is designed to serve individuals experiencing mood, anxiety or behavioral health concerns who can participate in a structured day program. Patients do not have to stay at the hospital for treatment, but partial hospitalization is available for those transitioning out of inpatient care.
Individuals who have not previously been a patient at the hospital can walk into the PHP area and receive an evaluation to determine an appropriate treatment plan.
“The quicker we get people in and seek the care they need, the more likely we are to keep that person,” Wagoner said. “The risk is people discontinuing care after their hospital stay, and this allows them to have a quick, rapid and intense program.”
With the demand for psychiatric care continuing to grow, Wagoner said more resources are needed to support patients.
“I think any time that we’re able to add resources for this, it’s going to be appreciated because the demand is huge,” Wagoner said. “I think it’s important to keep in mind that this program isn’t just adding resources or trying to fill the demand. We’re providing really high-quality care. Between the relationship with TGH and USF, this is a medical and academic center.”
According to a press release, PHP will provide patients with psychiatric evaluations and medication management, individual and group therapy, nursing and clinical support, and individualized treatment planning.
The program can address multiple conditions including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders.
“Partial hospitalization allows us to meet patients exactly where they are on their journey while providing the clinical structure and daily therapeutic support they need to stabilize,” said Doug Leonardo, CEO of the TGH Behavioral Health Hospital, in a press release. “Patients are able to build skills for recovery while living at home, staying connected to their families and communities.”
Once patients complete the more intensive PHP treatment, they will transition to a lower level of outpatient care, typically attending about three sessions per week.
The TGH Behavioral Health Hospital is one of four state-designated behavioral health teaching hospitals in Florida, according to the press release.
To schedule a new patient appointment or refer a patient, call (813) 893-6330 or walk in for an in-person evaluation. TGH Behavioral Health Hospital is located in the Tampa Medical and Research District at 1303 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.