Compassionate, competent care for our consumers

Compassion, competence and care management are the philosophies that guide the Health Service Department's efforts in responding to the health and clinical needs of the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled adults in our Residential Services Program.

Vast Array of Medical Needs

The consumers with mental retardation and developmentally disabilities who are served in the CMS Residential Services program present a full spectrum of complex medical and behavioral health problems. In response, CMS provides a broad array of services that are provided either directly by Cardinal McCloskey staff and consultants or by community-based providers. All medical treatment, including dental, optometry, audiology, podiatry, psychiatric and psychological, substance abuse, hospital and rehabilitative services such as occupational, physical or speech and language therapy is provided by community based practitioners and facilities.

Whether the need is for medical care coordination and oversight, response to a medical emergency, specialist treatment, enabling someone to grow on a social/emotional level, or just some medical "TLC", consumers in the CMS IRAs are in the capable hands and under the watchful care of the CMS Health Services Department.

CMS has also developed a number of arrangements that enable us to have certain services provided at the IRA (with doctor's orders) through fully licensed clinics that, in effect, send their medical personnel to make "house calls." Therefore, when it is appropriate, an individual may receive podiatry, nutritional counseling and management, psychological/behavioral treatment, psychiatric care, occupational therapy, physical therapy or speech and language therapy within the residence.

Personal Choice

In keeping with the philosophy of individualization and personal choice that are at the core of the Residential Services Program concept, many of our residents continue with their previous providers after coming to live at a CMS group home (known as an Individual Residential Alternative or IRA) or they select their own providers after moving into the residence. In other cases, the Service Coordinator, Residence Nurse and Residence Manger guide the selection of the medical practitioners or the "medical home."

Skilled Professional Staff

The CMS medical staff includes the Administrative Director for Medical and Clinical Services who is a licensed psychologist, registered nurses, a licensed Pratical Nurse and a Behavioral Health Specialist (Master's Level Psychologist) who assists residence counselors in responding to the health and clinical needs of the residents with developmental disabilities.

Because of the complexity of the problems that are presented, and multiple providers from almost every medical discipline, every IRA group home has a Residence Nurse responsible for care management to ensure that every consumer receives quality medical care. Because of the medical complexity of the residents in our Elmsford IRA, in addition to R.N. Services, there is now a full-time L.P.N. to further provide medical care management. Nurses visit each of their assigned residences at least once a week. They meet with the residents, provide health care education, monitor health needs, review records, make referrals and ensure follow-up on medical recommendations. The nurse is a critical member of the treatment team.

Medication Needs - The Residence Nurses are responsible for monitoring medications for appropriateness and potential interactions. In addition, the Residence Nurses also provide mandated medical education programs for the residence counselors caring for the consumers. The AMAP training is a rigorous New York State approved in-service training that enables residence counselors to become certified to administer medication. The Residence Nurses supervise the medication administration duties of the counselors and provide yearly re-certification classes.

In addition, CMS contracts with a dedicated pharmacy that specializes in providing services to consumers with mental retardation and developmentally disabilities. The pharmacy is available twenty four hours, seven days a week, to respond to our medication needs, whether routine or emergency. They also provide in-service education to staff so that they are well informed about the medical conditions of the residents they work with.

A nurse is available at all times to respond to medical questions and crises, either directly or by the emergency pager.

Clinical Care - Consumers living in Cardinal McCloskey IRAs share the same struggles to overcome emotional/behavioral problems and get along with others as we all do. While the IRAs are not treatment programs per se, the ability of our staff to individualize their responses to the persons served and meet individual needs in the social milieu can greatly enhance the social/emotional development of the residents. Therefore, while we do not directly provide behavioral health treatment, the consulting Behavioral Health Specialist works with staff to assess problems and potentials and to recommend appropriate interventions.