SWOT Analysis of a Therapeutic

SWOT Analysis of a Therapeutic Milieu at a Psych Health Facility

As the nurse manager of four inpatient behavioral health service units, I have a direct interest in the quality assurance and procedural efficiency of the psychiatric health facility where I am employed. Based on the mandated requirements by Medicare and other managed care coverage plans, it is increasingly important to monitor and ensure the quality of milieu management strategies. Indeed, Medicare and other providers now require some group setting for inpatient psychiatric treatment as part of the general healthcare and treatment strategy. In light of the increasing emphasis on this aspect of treatment, it is incumbent upon us to conduct a thorough evaluation of the therapeutic milieu at our facility. The deliverable of this evaluation should all for recommendations in moving toward the update and improvement of group treatment strategies.

Strengths:

Among the clear strengths of our staff in conducting group-setting care sessions is the length of tenure for many of our healthcare professionals. Contrary to many healthcare contexts, ours experiences little turnover as work morale is high, employers are treated and compensated well, working conditions are safe and the recruitment process brings in highly qualified individuals. In light of this, we can also claim a staff of caring, compassionate and humane individuals whose primary interest is the well-being and treatment of patients.

Weaknesses:

That stated, there are a number of staffing weaknesses which relate specifically to milieu management. As group psychiatric procedures gain emphasis, our personnel have not received the training or education to accommodate or appreciate this transition. As a result, personnel do not following group scheduling demands properly and the imperatives relating to group therapy are not taken as seriously as they must be. This points to the core weakness for our staff, which is the absence of proper training for management and mental health technicians where group therapy is concerned. It is necessary for a psychiatric health facility to provide comprehensive training to its leadership in order for management to disseminate the values of group treatment approaches. This is lacking to the detriment of the quality of milieu management strategies.

Opportunities:

There are many opportunities in the inpatient setting to engage patients in group contexts to the betterment of individual prospects and the atmosphere within the healthcare facility. As Fritscher (2008) points out, "although it takes time to achieve, a successful therapeutic milieu is a safe and trusting environment. Group members feel free to experiment with behavioral changes and discuss deep secrets without fear of judgment or reprisal. Members are also exposed to the struggles of others. This can build empathy and understanding, reduce the feeling of being alone and help spark new ideas on how people can handle their own difficulties." (p. 1)

This points of the value of different types of group treatment strategies, which can center on grouping together individuals of shared or overlapping needs. Over the course of our research, we have encountered an array of different group types which connote the contextualizing milieu by which treatment is designed. For instance, goal-setting groups can help to raise collective and concrete markers of treatment success around which members may coalesce to support one another. Or relaxation groups may simply group together individuals sharing the common need for stress management strategies. Community groups, more commonly established through outpatient processes, can help to group together individuals in geographical proximity to one another, creating a social context for shared support. As our evaluation finds generally, proper training of mental health professionals is needed to facilitate any of these milieus.

Threats: