86. Still Planting, Still Hauling: Engaging Families in Crisis Care at the Hospital

Welcome back—still corn to haul and somehow still in the middle of planting… and if that doesn’t sum up hospital life during a crisis, we don’t know what does. In today’s episode, we explore the critical yet often complicated role families play when a loved one is hospitalized, especially in behavioral health and addiction-related crises. Research is clear: family support significantly improves patient outcomes. But navigating that support system is far from simple. We break down the mental health toll on caregivers, the barriers created by misinterpretations of HIPAA, and the importance of empowering families through education and peer support like NAMI’s Family-to-Family program. Tune in as we unpack what hospitals can do to include families in care—without compromising privacy.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Mastering the art of engaging families in hospital settings - Enhance patient care with improved family involvement during crisis situations.
• Navigating behavioral health systems like a pro - Unlock the secrets to efficiently navigating the complex behavioral health systems for better patient outcomes.
• Harnessing the power of HIPAA for family health information sharing - Learn how to responsibly share crucial family health information while abiding by HIPAA regulations.
• Embracing the role of peer support in mental health - Discover the impact of peer support in mental health care for more holistic patient well-being.
• Prioritizing caregiver mental health - Uncover the importance of prioritizing caregiver mental health for better overall patient care.

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:02 - Introduction to Behavioral Health System
00:01:21 - Importance of Engaging Families in Crisis
00:04:47 - Personal Experience with Family Support
00:08:31 - Impact of Family Health History
00:11:52 - Addressing HIPAA Misconceptions
00:12:54 - Misconceptions about HIPAA
00:13:41 - Educating Families without Disclosing Diagnoses
00:16:33 - Provider Engagement and Information Sharing
00:19:48 - The Value of Peer Support
00:21:39 - Self-Care Tip: Neuro Cosmetics

Links:

• Reference: https://www.caregiver.org/resource/caregiver-health/#20
• Reference: https://www.nami.org/support-education/mental-health-education/nami-provider/

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Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wP_dASN6h8o