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WPCC provides acute psychiatric treatment to adults living in Baltimore City.   Services are provided to patients without regard to race, religion or ethnic origin.  As a publicly funded facility, the Center provide acute, adult psychiatric care to the indigent, those without health insurance, the insured for whom no private sector bed can be provided, or those with legal complications, e.g., detainees, inmates in need of civil commitment, or court orders.  Patients are admitted, discharged and/or transferred for somatic care where indicated, without regard to their financial circumstances.  If patients are unable to pay for the care provided, the facility, via the Mental Hygiene Administration absorbs the costs.

 

Psychiatric and Medical Services

Psychiatrists who are faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine provide psychiatric services to the patients at the Walter P. Carter Center. A Psychiatrist evaluates each new patient and coordinates all of the care that the patient receives.  Additionally, physical care services for the patients are provided by practitioners from the Family Medicine Department of the University of Maryland Medical System.

The telephone number for Clinical Services is (410) 209-6102. David Barrett, M.D. is the Clinical Director.

 

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Admission Services

PRE-ENTRY PHASE

Patients are screened for admission in various emergency rooms and clinics throughout the city and state. Once it has been determined that a person is in need of acute psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, a referral is made to the facility’s Admission Services office.   Decisions to admit patients are made based solely on psychiatric need, and not based on economic considerations.  Prior to accepting a person for admission, the referring agency must ensure that there are no medical contraindications to the admission, and that Maryland Health Partners, the State’s Administrative Service Organization has authorized the admission. 

This is accomplished by a medical clearance that requires a physical examination, and appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests.  Additionally, each referral is reviewed for clinical appropriateness, and to ensure that the admission is not violating any of the patient’s legal rights.  The Center accepts referrals and patients for admission twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven days (7) a week.  Admissions personnel conduct admission Services Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 A.M.  From 12:30 A.M. until 8:00 A.M., Monday through Friday, weekends and holidays Nursing Services assumes responsibility for admissions/related activities.

Patients are admitted in the following ways:

            -   Voluntary

            -   Emergency Petition                              

            -   Court Ordered

            -   Certification by Psychiatrist/ or Psychologist (Involuntary).

 

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Voluntary

Patients admitted voluntarily sign an application for voluntary admission and must meet the criteria for admission set out in Title 10, Maryland’s Mental Hygiene Law.

Emergency Petition

Patients admitted on an emergency petition must first be assessed and medically cleared by the designated emergency room.

Court Order

Court ordered patients are referred from designated courts.  Pre-Admission Screening for persons charged before these courts is conducted by the Pre-Trial Screening Unit of the Medical Service of the Circuit Court of Baltimore City.  Court ordered patients are admitted for evaluation and competency to stand trial and evaluation for criminal responsibility.

Certificates

Patients admitted involuntary must have two certificates completed by duly licensed physicians and/or psychologists.  The certificates must be accompanied by an application for involuntary admission and a psychiatric report that addresses the five required criteria (six criteria for geriatric admissions) from the Mental Hygiene Law and the Center’s criteria for admission.

Certified patients who are 65 and older are required by law to be evaluated and approved by law to be evaluated and approved by the Geriatric Evaluation Service, prior to admission, unless they are court ordered for evaluation.

The telephone number for the Admissions Department is (410) 209-6351.

 

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Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services

The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Service (ADAS) at Walter P. Carter Center was initiated in 1975 in recognition of substance abuse and dependence as a major problem co-existing in the mentally ill.

Patients with a substance abuse problem are provided with substance abuse treatment groups throughout the week. These groups are designed to address issues specific to the addiction process, such as substance abuse education, dual diagnosis of substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders, AIDS education and transition to community-based treatment resources. In addition, AA and NA meetings are also available within the Center to WPCC patients.

The telephone number for the Department is (410) 209-6123.

 

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Pharmacy

The scope of services provided by the Department of Pharmacy include: patient medication regimen review, drug information, clinical consultation, patient and staff education, prescribing guidelines, protocol development, drug therapy monitoring, clinical pharmacokinetics services, medication error and adverse drug reaction reporting/assessment, drug utilization evaluation, continuous monitoring of pharmacy-related quality improvement issues, formulary maintenance, purchase and inventory, drug distribution, packaging and labeling, medication area inspections, and 24-hour on-call medication/information access.

The telephone number for the Department is (410) 209-6175.

 

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Psychology Services

This department consists of three full-time doctoral level psychologists.  The Department of Psychology provides a variety of direct care services to patients at the Walter P. Carter Center.

 

After admission, the department offers diagnostic screening services to assess the type and extent of a patient’s mental health problems.

Each psychologist also participates as a member of a treatment team where individual cases are reviewed on a daily basis, and offers his or her observations and recommendations.

 

It is the psychologist’s role to coordinate what is referred to as the Level System.  The Level System is a behavioral point system used not only to track a patient’s participation in treatment services, but also as a motivational tool to guide patients through higher levels of privileges and responsibility.

 

Individual psychotherapy is offered to patients who appear that they would benefit from this kind of treatment.  These referrals are made upon the recommendation of attending psychiatrists.

 

Psychologists also offer group therapy services on a weekly basis including groups on Social Skills Training and Problem Solving.

 

Consultations are available upon request. 

 

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Nursing Services

Nursing Services provides twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) day a week, direct care to patients through the implementation of psychiatrist/physician orders, the provision of individual or group counseling, patient education, and by acting as patient advocates.  Each patient is assigned to an RN, who is responsible for the coordination of the patient’s plan of care based on the Nursing Care Plan Nursing Standards. The Nursing Care Plan and applicable Nursing Standards are based on a nursing assessment that is completed upon admission and updated throughout the hospital stay.  Care is then provided in collaboration with the treatment team and focuses on the need to include the patient and family or significant others in the treatment planning process.

Nursing Care is provided in a manner that ensures that patient rights are protected. Patient care needs are matched with the skill level and competence of the staff person assigned to render care.

The telephone number for the Department is (410) 209-6130.

 

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Department of Social Work

The Department of Social Work provides services to the patient, from the time of admission, through discharge and aftercare arrangements. Social Workers are assigned to each of the inpatients units, and the department has both an Aftercare and Forensic Coordinator.  The department continues to explore, promote, and develop creative and consistently appropriate care.  If you are hospitalized at the Center, psychiatric Social Workers are available and will work with you, your treatment team, clinics and family members.

 The telephone number for the Department is (410) 209-6351.

 

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Dietary Services

Quality food service and individualized nutritional care is provided by the Dietary Department.  Two (2) seasonal cycle menus (Fall/Winter -Spring/Summer) are offered.  The menus are posted in every patient unit.  Patients receive their meals on the units or in the fourth floor Cafeteria; evening nourishment is also supplied.

Within 72 hours of admission, patients will be seen by a Registered Dietitian to determine their food preferences and for completion of a nutritional assessment.  Since Dietary Services offer a non-selective menu, substitutions are honored for patients dislikes.  A full service cafeteria is opened Monday through Friday for staff and visitors.  The cafeteria is opened every day for the patients.

The department also provides an assortment of educational materials to reinforce nutritional counseling.

The telephone number for the Department is (410) 209-6030.

 

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Rehabilitation Services

Therapeutic Recreation and Occupational Therapy are available to all patients.   All patients receive therapeutic recreation, and patients who meet the screening criteria receive occupational therapy services.  Rehabilitation Services includes, but is not limited to assessment, treatment groups and education.  Individual treatment is available when indicated (e.g., the patient cannot tolerate treatment groups, or is unable to attend while on close observation).  Special events, including holiday activities and community are held monthly and are coordinated by the Therapeutic Recreation Department.

The telephone number for the Department is (410) 209-6090.

 

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Infection Control Program

FUNCTIONS:

·  Surveillance of nosocomial infections;

·  Education and training of health care workers including the provision of ongoing educational   

   programs in infection prevention and control;             

 

·  Intervening directly to prevent transmission of infectious diseases including the identification of    

   the occurrence of outbreaks or clusters of infectious diseases;

·  Maintenance and monitoring of infection control procedures;

·  Review of laboratory records.

The telephone number for the Department is (410) 209-6082.

 

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Health Information Services

MEDICAL RECORDS

Health Information Services of the Walter P. Carter Center is opened from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The department provides the following service:

•  Assists in obtaining medical records for patients and/or other authorized parties.

The telephone number for the Department is (410) 209-6050.