Physicians
Studies show 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress, and 75% of all doctor's office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. Stress is linked to alcoholism and misuse of prescription medications. Patients who are dependent on substances or exhibit other behavioral health disorders are often hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. Whether a diagnosis is based on symptoms or self-revelation or family contacts, HCAMS can help develop a clinically appropriate treatment plan.
Intervention
If the client denies the problem and/or resists getting help—a very common response in behavioral health and substance abuse matters—HCAMS will assist in organizing an intervention. We will teach those who participate—generally family members, physicians or medical staff and friends—to offer evidence of the problem in order to break down the denial and move the person into accepting help. Immediately following the intervention, HCAMS will facilitate the placement of the patient in an appropriate treatment program. (See Setting Up an Intervention page.)
Placement
HCAMS provides education and designs a course of out-patient and/or in-patient care. The service providers for this care are recommended on the basis of the client's needs, circumstances and resources available.
Insurance
HCAMS contacts the insurance provider to determine certification and pre-admission procedures, network providers, and treatment coverage. HCAMS provides medical verification to justify valid admissions and supplies documentation to substantiate the need for treatment and aftercare.
If the recommended care is not covered by insurance, we provide information about admission opportunities to charitable and indigent care facilities. If the client is without insurance, we provide information about public funding that may be available.
Case management
Case supervision is an important component of our services. Both the clinical care and the client's progress need to be monitored (job protective services are available upon request). Once the in-patient care is complete, the client will need an aftercare plan. HCAMS will assist with the implementation and monitoring of that plan.
Training/consulting
Medical office personnel are often the first to learn that a patient is struggling with addiction or other behavioral health disorders. We offer those personnel, as well as treating professionals, information on symptoms, brief interventions, insurance issues, and HCAMS services.