25th Annual Public Sector Psychiatry Conference
The 25th Annual Public Sector Psychiatry Conference was successfully held on June 17, 2009.
Health & Wellness for Persons with Serious Mental Illness: Challenges & Opportunities
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
University Campus, Amphitheatre II
55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01655
For more information or special needs, please call the UMass Chan Department of Psychiatry at 508-334-0578. We look forward to seeing you at our next year's conference!
Audience
We welcome physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, addictions counselors, tobacco treatment specialists, and others.
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Continuing Education Credit
In order to receive a certificate, attendees must sign-in and fill out the evaluation form on the day of the conference. No partial credit will be given.
Psychologists: The Department of Psychiatry at the UMass Chan Medical School is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UMass Chan Medical School maintains responsibility for the program and its content. This program is being offered for 5.5 continuing education credits (CE) for psychologists.
Physicians: The Massachusetts Psychiatric Society designates this educational activity for a maximum of 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Massachusetts Medical Society for Continuing Medical Education through the Joint Sponsorship of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society and the Public Sector Division of the UMass Chan Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry.
The Massachusetts Psychiatric Society is accredited by the Massachusetts Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Tobacco Treatment Specialists (TTS, CTTS-M): 6.5 CEU hours are approved.
CEU’s for other groups (nurses, social workers, LMHC, others) have been applied.
Program Description
Persons with serious mental illnesses are now dying 25 years earlier than the general population; 60% of premature deaths in persons with schizophrenia are due to medical conditions. Increased morbidity and mortality are largely due to treatable medical conditions.
Many of these are caused by modifiable risk factors such as obesity, smoking, substance abuse, and inadequate access to medical care. The newer antipsychotic medications, while addressing symptoms of mental illness, have become associated with weight gain, diabetes, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome.
Access to adequate healthcare for individuals with serious mental illnesses is greatly impaired. For example, fewer than 40 percent of persons with serious mental illness even receive stable psychiatric treatment.
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Objectives
After attending the entire conference, participants should be able to:
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understand the physical health risks involved in having a serious mental illness and in using newer (atypical) antipsychotic medications
- learn the role of prevention and health maintenance in the care of persons with serious mental illness
- understand the depth and breadth of health care disparities and how to address them
- learn what resources are available in all formats, e.g., print, online, local, national, and international to improve the health and wellbeing of persons with serious mental illness
Registration
Registration Fee: $130. Registrations should not be mailed unless receipt can be guaranteed by June 3, 2009. On-site registration: $150.
Group and Discounted Fee: $75. Employees of the Department of Mental Health are offered a discounted rate of $75. Institutions and organizations that enroll 5 or more persons at the same time are offered a discounted rate of $75.
This tax-deductible fee includes continental breakfast, lunch, parking and continuing education credit.
Deadline
Registration has closed. No on-site registration will be accepted.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your registration before May 27, 2008 your fee is refundable less a $25 processing charge. After that date, no refunds will be given for any reason – including weather and other emergencies. Substitutions are always acceptable with prior notification.
General Information
Weather Emergency Policy: While the probability of delay or cancellation of the conference is highly unlikely, we recognize that we are all subject to the vagaries of New England weather. If a weather emergency does occur, and you are in doubt as to whether or not the course will be held, call 508-334-0578 before 4 p.m. on June 16, 2009.
Comfort: Business casual is very appropriate for this conference. Although every attempt will be made to ensure the comfort of our attendees, we suggest that you may wish to bring a sweater/jacket if you tend to be chilly.