Page 17 - 2017-2018 Department of Psychiatry Annual Report

access to competent professional EPI (early psychosis intervention) pieces of the program as they occur.
assessment after identification; 3) to team and a zone facilitator. The Western and Northern zones
provide integrated evidence-based have mostly finalized their groups in
care; 4) to provide continuity of care; Since October 2017 Dr. Tibbo has their respective zones. The steering
5) to provide care and treatment that been meeting monthly with the group is identifying what further
fully engages the patient and their EPINS operational steering group capacity building needs to be done in
family; 6) to ensure that effective consisting of representatives from the zones before organizing further
transitions from early intervention the four provincial zones and the education. Once the provincial
care allow for the maintenance of IWK, Drs. Glen Berry, Mary Gillis, coordinator position is filled they
gains made; and 7) to evaluate Mel Davidson, and Sabina Abidi, will be able to fully implement the
and research the processes and the EPINS Evaluation Process program.
outcomes associated with the Early Coordinator David Whitehorn, and
Intervention Services in the province. a family representative, Donna Dr. Tibbo is confident the program
Dr. Tibbo will fulfill the duties of the Methot, to work on the development will be a success. “By the end of
EPINS clinical director and provide of services in each of the zones. the first year I hope there will be
overall leadership, ensuring the They have also been holding monthly a clear process of identification,
service is consistent with the latest web-based education rounds for assessment and treatment of early
research findings, clinical guidelines individuals interested or working in phase psychosis (following standards
and service standards. He will work EPP around the province. A person of care in this area) in each of the
with a dedicated team consisting of with lived experience will also join zones,” he says. “I also hope by that
a provincial coordinator charged with the team in spring 2018. Once the time a process of assessing access
the overall coordination of the EPINS, EPINS is fully operational there will and outcomes will be in place.” In five
an education resource coordinator be monthly clinical rounds to discuss years’ time the desire is to have a
who will develop and oversee cases and relevant clinical issues, fully functional provincial early phase
the dissemination of education as well as monthly education rounds psychosis intervention program, with
materials, and the evaluation process to provide a range of educational fidelity to evidenced-based standards
coordinator who will develop and offerings. Both sessions will be of care, improving the outcomes of
oversee the process of gathering made available by teleconference, youth and young adults who have
and analyzing clinical and program videoconference, or online recording. been diagnosed with a primary
evaluation data. Each zone in the The steering group is in the process psychotic disorder.
province will also have a designated
of planning and rolling out individual

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