Message From The Chairperson
It has been an honor to
lead this exciting department since August 2006.
I joined a department and a medical center with
a distinguished history of providing competent
and compassionate care to patients, their families,
and their communities. Devotion of the staff
to the patients endures, as does the core value
of ensuring that the patient is an equal member
of their own treatment team. It is my expectation
that N.U.M.C. will become the first choice provider
for patients seeking mental health services
on Long Island. Going forward, key emphases
will include: Expansion, Innovation, Quality
Improvement, Cultural Competence, Consumer Satisfaction,
Research, and Cost-Effectiveness. On behalf
of our dedicated interdisciplinary faculty,
let me thank you in advance for your trust in
the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Health Sciences. Please see below for important
phone numbers if you are interested in accessing
our services. Always, please feel free to contact
my office directly at (516) 572-5057, or by
e-mail at nrao@numc.edu with any questions,
comments, or suggestions. I am here to respond
to your needs and concerns.
Thank you,
Nyapati R. Rao, M.D., M.S.
Chairperson - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Health Sciences
Key Accomplishments of 2007
Opening of the new 35 bed, 28 day inpatient substance
abuse rehabilitation on the 10th floor
Opening of the 35 bed new adult inpatient unit on
the 12th floor Smooth operation of the new 12 bed
inpatient child and adolescent unit (03)
Creation of the Division of Performance Improvement
within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Health Sciences
3 year re-accreditation from the Joint Commmision
5 year re-accreditation of the Psychiatry Residency program with commendation
Full re-accreditation of al units from the New York State Office of Mental Health
Establishment of a specialized intake service to screen detox patients
Expansion of the Consultation-Liaison Service
Goals for 2008
Development of a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency
Program (CPEP) using existing space to: better evaluate
and treat patients who present with emergent psychiatric
conditions; and to avoid long-term hospitalization
as much as possible.
Development of a Comprehensive Outpatient Program
to expertly serve the specialized needs of the following
populations: child and adolescents, seniors, victims
of domestic abuse, and veterans
Creation of a research division to: 1) launch and
analyze our own outcome studies with particular
emphasis on the treatment of the serious and persistently
mentally ill; 2) secure independent funding through
grant writing and fees from sponsors; 3) more actively
partner with local and national centers of research
excellence.
Goals for 2009
Creation of a brand new and expanded space on the
ground floor to house the CPEP
Development of psychiatry fellowships in the areas
of: child & adolescent, consultation-liaison, and
chemical dependency.
