Horizon Health Expands Behavioral Health Services

Nurse practitioners offer psychiatric services

Two nurse practitioners at Horizon Health have expanded their practice to focus on psychiatric services.

Danielle Ireland and Samantha Volstorf recently completed training as psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners.

Both provide outpatient psychiatric services for patients of all ages, including children age 5 and older. They treat common to complex conditions, such as ADHD, addiction, anxiety, child behavior or academic issues, obesity and/or eating disorders. Other conditions include bipolar disorder, dementia, depression, insomnia, PTSD, and schizophrenia. They are able to prescribe behavioral health-related medications when appropriate. One of those is Suboxone, a medication-assisted treatment for drug addiction.

“The recent training that Danielle and Samantha received strengthens our commitment to meet the behavioral health needs of our communities,” said Oliver Smith, Horizon Health president and CEO. “As rural areas have struggled with shortages of mental health services, we have worked hard to build a program that addresses both the physical and psychological wellbeing of our patients.”

Danielle offers in-person appointments at the Chrisman Clinic on Monday through Thursday. Samantha offers in-person appointments at the Paris Clinic Tuesday through Friday. In addition to their behavioral health practices, Danielle and Samantha continue to see patients for primary care needs at their respective locations.

For an appointment, call Danielle at 217-269-2394 or Samantha at 217-465-8411.

Telepsychiatry

Horizon Health also continues to offer telemedicine appointments with psychiatrists. These services are available to patients four days a week at the Paris Clinic. Participating physicians are Dr. Jorge Fernald, Dr. Ihuoma Okezie, and Dr. Mohanakumari Naidu. Each physician has 12 years or more of psychiatric experience.

For a telepsychiatry appointment, talk to your primary care provider as a referral is required.

Senior Care

This voluntary behavioral health service is for patients with Medicare part B age 65 and older, as well as Medicare disability patients. The intensive outpatient program provides support for seniors who are experiencing depression, grief, anxiety, loneliness, caregiver stress, and other emotional/psychiatric conditions.

Patients can refer themselves to the program, or can be referred by a physician, other health care providers, the Senior Center, churches, friends, and family members. Call Senior Care at 217-466-4170.