The Acute Home Based Treatment team in Richmond. is a short-term, community based program that treats individuals with acute mental health and/or addiction issues. The team is interdisciplinary, with three psychiatrists, two registered psychiatric nurses, a registered nurse, a clinical counselor and an occupational therapist (OT). As the OT on the program, Brittany Graham provides inter-professional case management and brings a focus to clients’ optimal functioning in meaningful activities.

OT Brittany Graham (left) and RPN Renee Ylagan.

Addressing sleep insufficiency is one such example of how the team works together. As many can attest, when we miss out on restorative sleep our ability to function is impacted the following day. Lack of sleep can lead to distress, increased difficulty with employment due to absences, poor job performance and higher risk of injury (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2008). When a client is struggling with sleep, the Psychiatrist is able to evaluate and prescribe medication; the Nurses can check and monitor side effects & symptoms; while Brittany, as the OT, can focus on how poor sleep affects the client’s day to day functioning and support the client to use strategies for improved sleep. Together, the team is able to manage and integrate all of these factors and intervene at each level to support improved client outcomes.

“Different perspectives from staff with varying backgrounds help
to approach the clients in a more holistic manner, plus we learn from one another”
– RPN, AHBT Richmond

Learn more

Learn more about the value of interdisciplinary home based treatment teams here. And to learn more about Occupational Therapy’s Role in Sleep go here.