About the Young Adult Unit Treatment Team

Each individual is assigned a highly specialized, compassionate treatment team. The treatment team works together towards the goal of helping your loved one stabilize so they can safely move to a less-intensive level of care. Our treatment teams are composed of:

• Medical director, an adult psychiatrist who oversees all adult services at Sheppard Pratt.

• Service chief, an adult psychiatrist who serves as the clinical leader of treatment and services on the unit.

• Attending psychiatrist, an adult psychiatrist who works directly with the service chief in providing care to patients.

• Unit manager, a nurse who is responsible for program development, milieu activities, and the day-to-day functioning of the program.

• Social worker, who is the primary contact and liaison for patient families. The social worker attends daily treatment team meetings, and will keep you informed about your loved one’s clinical progress. The social worker also works with you to obtain a family history in order to get a holistic view of your loved one. The social worker will also prepare a comprehensive discharge plan for when your loved one is ready to return to the community.

• Patient Care Coordinator (PCC), who is a registered nurse and designated liaison between the treatment team and unit staff. The PCC attends daily treatment team meetings, and will have communication with the staff about your loved one’s treatment plan, any nursing interventions that need to be implemented, and will follow up with treatment team as needed. The PCC works collaboratively with all members of the treatment team from the time of admission until discharge.

• Psychiatric nurses, who help individuals with their daily activities, managing their symptoms, and any medical concerns. Psychiatric nurses are also responsible for dispensing medication. Members of the nursing team are available 24/7.

• Mental health workers, who are trained staff members that help run therapeutic groups and work directly with the clinical treatment team and nurses to ensure unit safety.

• Peer support specialist, who is an individual with lived experience with mental illness. The peer support specialist helps patients develop positive coping skills, and serves as a source of hope and inspiration.