The Department of Psychiatry
The Department of Psychiatry at the Drexel University College of Medicine is dedicated to addressing equally the biological and psychosocial aspects of psychiatric disorders. As a department committed to research and clinical care, the application of advances in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology and neurobiological research to patient care is most important. Clinical services are provided for patients suffering from psychotic, affective and anxiety disorders, neuropsychiatric and organic brain syndromes, personality disorders and substance abuse. The hospitals have a broad continuum of in-patient, out-patient and partial hospitalization programs, and offer comprehensive psychiatric and neuropsychiatric services to patients of all ages.
The Department of Psychiatry supports active research programs with substantial external/federal funding in child and adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry, and substance abuse/chemical dependency. Residents are encouraged but not required to become involved in research during their training.
Hospitals and Affiliates
At the Hahnemann University Hospital campus, the department of psychiatry has one psychiatric in-patient unit containing a total of 22 beds; an ambulatory facility which provides services for adults and children; and an active consultation-liaison service. The in-patient unit is a unique psychiatric medical care unit (PMCU) with 20 beds, which provides services to psychiatric patients who also need attention to major medical or surgical problems. The PMCU is an innovative concept in the treatment of patients with combined somatic and psychiatric diagnoses. There are fewer than 30 such units in the country. The physical facilities on the unit are specifically designed to provide a similar level of care as is available on general medical or surgery units. The care of most patients on the unit is directed by two attending physicians. One is a full-time faculty psychiatrist. The other is a faculty member from another clinical department, usually the department of medicine, surgery or neurology. Residents learn to manage these complex patients who are becoming a major component of psychiatric in-patients in the United States. The ambulatory services at Hahnemann University Hospital are in an 18,000 square foot facility across Vine Street opposite the main clinical campus of Hahnemann University Hospital. The ambulatory services include the adult and child outpatient clinics, a partial hospitalization/rehabilitation program, and the geriatric center. Our ambulatory facility also includes office spaces for residents and graduate trainees. It houses faculty offices as well.
All in-patient units at Friends Hospital and at Hahnemann University Hospital are well staffed with representatives of allied mental health disciplines so that patients are offered a broad range of programs, including family therapy, music, art and movement therapy and assessment. The resident participates in these activities and has primary responsibility for the care of his or her patients. Average caseloads are 7-8 patients per resident.
Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Services at Hahnemann Hospital operate at the interface between psychiatry and all of the medical specialties. The resident physician is a key member of a team of doctors, nurses and medical students who evaluate and treat patients suffering from any of a range of psychiatric and neuropsychiatric disorders that occur in patients with general medical and surgical and neurological problems. The resident is the frontline consultant responsible for evaluating one or two cases each day, including communicating with the referring physicians. |