From the Blog

Year in Review 2024

As we reflect on Fiscal Year 2024, AltaPointe Health continues to evolve to meet the growing needs of the communities we serve. Our commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible behavioral and primary health care remains steadfast, and this annual report demonstrates our progress.

One of our most transformative achievements this year has been our expansion of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). AltaPointe was one of only two providers in the state selected to implement this model of care. The CCBHC model allows us to enhance access, improve care coordination, and integrate mental health and substance use services for individuals across our seven counties. By embracing the CCBHC framework, AltaPointe has strengthened crisis response, expanded evidence-based treatments, and ensured more people receive comprehensive, person-centered care.

Our growth in primary care services has been instrumental in advancing whole person health. Through our Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) we have expanded preventive care, chronic disease management, and wellness programs, addressing both physical and behavioral health needs. By bridging the gap between mental health and primary care, we continue to improve health outcomes for thousands of patients.

We continue strengthening our partnerships with law enforcement to enhance their ability to respond effectively to mental health crises. Through innovative programs such as virtual reality training, equipping officers with iPads, and co-response initiatives, we are helping law enforcement de-escalate situations, recognize mental health symptoms, and connect individuals to appropriate care— prioritizing treatment over incarceration.

At the close of FY 2024, AltaPointe Health expanded its Behavioral Health Crisis Center with the opening of a dedicated six-bed, medically-managed substance withdrawal unit. This significant addition enhances our ability to provide comprehensive, compassionate care for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and seeking recovery support. Developed in response to the rising prevalence of fentanyl use both locally and nationwide, as well as the increase in alcohol use disorder since the pandemic, this unit reinforces our commitment to addressing the evolving needs of our community.

These accomplishments, along with those of our dedicated staff, reaffirm our mission of improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve. We are proud of the strides made in access, quality, and innovation and remain committed to ensuring that all individuals receive the care and support they need.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership in our mission. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of so many.

Year In Review 2023

This year has been one of profound resilience and expansion for AltaPointe and the Accordia Health brand, and this annual report is a testament to the transformative impact our organization has had on the lives of the people we serve. At the heart of our success is the strength of the partnerships we have built with fellow providers, the judicial system, law enforcement, and higher education—an interconnected community that embraces and supports one another. This report highlights how our compassionate care contributes to the well-being of the individuals we serve and the communities we call home.

Over the past fiscal year, AltaPointe has experienced remarkable growth, significantly increasing the number of patients served and expanding the range of services provided. In the summer of 2023, the Ashland Outpatient Clinic in Clay County opened for patients, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s unwavering commitment to meeting the communities’ evolving behavioral healthcare needs.

In 2023, AltaPointe’s primary care division, Accordia Health, expanded its holistic healthcare approach through a strategic partnership with USA Health’s Department of Family Medicine. This collaboration unites the shared missions of both organizations through an integrated healthcare delivery clinic.

In our North Region, AltaPointe is very fortunate to have had the opportunity to offer clinic space to two other entities in the Rockford community to enhance healthcare delivery further.  In the fall of 2023, the Alabama Department of Public Health re-established a Coosa County Health Department, and Rockford Pharmacy opened its doors, both occupying available space in the Accordia Health clinic. The collaboration reflects our dedication to enhancing local healthcare accessibility, ensuring the well-being of Coosa County residents, and fostering a healthier community for generations to come.

Across the state, our relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies grew stronger, ensuring a more compassionate and effective approach to addressing mental health emergencies. These collaborations enhance the safety of individuals in crisis and promote a more informed, empathetic response.

As we continue to break stigmas and build hope, we are committed to fostering a culture of wellness. AltaPointe remains dedicated to championing behavioral and primary health equity, ensuring everyone has access to the quality healthcare they deserve regardless of background, circumstance, or where they live.

 

 

BayView Professional Associates introduces new option for treating major depressive disorder

Sadness is a natural part of life. People may feel sad or depressed when someone they love passes away, or they experience one of life’s challenges, such as a serious illness or divorce. These feelings are normal and often short-lived. However, for some, the feeling of sadness can persist and intensify for extended periods. When that happens, they may have major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States and the most common diagnosis treated by AltaPointe clinicians.

AltaPointe’s BayView Professional Associates is offering a new treatment option to help adults struggling with major depressive disorder, specifically for those who have tried and failed other treatment options and medications. “We are excited to offer Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to adult patients at BayView,” said Olivia Nettles, director of BayView Professional Associates. “Treatment-resistant depression is a devastating condition associated with early death from suicide or poor physical health and an impaired ability to work. There is a population of patients who do not respond to antidepressant treatment, and this is another option available to help them live a better life.”

TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. When a nerve cell “fires,” an electrical impulse travels along its length. It communicates with other nerve cells by releasing neuro-transmitters, which create an electrical impulse in other cells. In depressed patients, electrical activity in some regions of the brain is reduced. TMS uses a focused electromagnetic coil to rapidly pulse a magnetic field to the targeted area of the brain. The magnetic pulses induce an electrical current in the brain, stimulating the nerve cells and increasing the brain activity to normal levels.

John Conrad, assistant director of BayView Professional Associate and a licensed independent clinical social worker with more than 25 years of experience, encourages people to learn all they can about the treatment. “If you have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and medication is not working, or the side effects are intolerable, you should ask your doctor about TMS,” Conrad said. “Treatment-resistant depression is historically debilitating; this is a new option with fewer side effects than traditional medications, and offers a chance to live life anew.”

Some people living with major depressive disorder cannot remember life without depression. The National Institute of Health estimates 10 to 30 percent of people with depression do not respond to first-line treatments. Treatment-resistant depression is a clinical concern and can pose significant burdens to patients and their families.

“TMS is readily incorporated into the patient’s treatment plan and allows for minimal disruption during the day. Appointments run 35 minutes at the most. Research supports the use of TMS to treat major depressive disorder, as well as anecdotal experience,” Sean Sinclair, M.D., said. “This new option for patients adds immensely to our services here at BayView.”

To learn more about how TMS may help you, call BayView Professional Associates at (251) 450-2250.

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

AL-501 CoC Public Notice

We collect personal information directly from you for reasons that are discussed in our privacy statement. We may be required to collect some personal information by law or by organizations that give us money to operate this program. Other personal information that we collect is important to run our programs, to improve services for homeless and/ or at-risk persons, and to better understand the needs of homeless and/ or at-risk persons. We only collect information that we consider to be appropriate. To read our full Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) privacy notice

The collection and use of all personal information is guided by strict standards of confidentiality. A copy of our Privacy Notice describing out privacy practice is available to all clients upon request.

To read our full Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) privacy notice click here. 

 

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