Pioneering the Design and Function of Medical-Psychiatry Units (MPUs): Bridging Acute Medical and Mental Health for Whole-person Care

Synopsis

As healthcare systems evolve to better address the needs of patients with complex co-occuring medical and psychiatric needs, the integration of psychiatric and medical care in one place at the same time has become increasingly essential.
Drawing on extensive expertise, Virginia Pankey, HOK Architect and FGI contributor and Dr. Marsha Wittink, Academic Chief of the Division of Medicine in Psychiatry at the University of Rochester and chair of the Medical-Psychiatry Unit Consortium, will explore the leading developments in design and operational guidelines for Inpatient medical-psychiatry units. This presentation will delve into the innovative approaches being implemented to address the complex needs of patients with concomitant acute mental and physical health conditions.

Note* – we can also extend an invitation to Maarten van Schijdel, leading researcher in the area of Medical-Psychiatry Unit innovation and collaborating design expert from the Netherlands.
Building on new clinical consensus guidelines for MPUs, information gathered from the recent Reimagining Medical-Psychiatry Unit workshop and data from a patient-priorities study at the University of Rochester; and key input from peer support specialists with lived experience, our speakers will discuss the following key points:
• What Matters Most to Patients: Drawing from recent work conducted on the medical-psychiatry unit at the University of Rochester, we will present data highlighting patients’ desire for de-stigmatized integrated care where patients can actively voice their concerns, participate in treatment decision-making and gain a deeper understanding of how their medical and psychiatric health are connected.
• Evolution of Treatment Paradigms: Emphasizing the shift towards integrated, whole-person care for patients with complex medical and psychiatric needs.
• Reimbursement and Resource Allocation Challenges: Addressing the financial and logistical barriers to developing and maintaining medical-psychiatry units, with a focus on overcoming challenges in reimbursement structures.
• Development of Operational and Physical Guidelines: Highlighting the creation of standardized clinical and design guidelines to ensure consistent, high-quality care across institutions, focusing on both operational efficiency and physical design.
• Designing Therapeutic Environments: Exploring key design considerations that create safe, healing spaces that address both psychiatric and medical needs, balancing patient safety and therapeutic efficacy.
• Dual Certification and Staff Training: Advocating for the dual certification of units and the essential role of staff training in de-escalation techniques to ensure a holistic approach to care.
• Regulatory Compliance: Navigating the complexities of regulatory frameworks, including meeting behavioral health safety standards (such as ligature resistance) while ensuring HIPAA compliance.