The Medical-Psychiatric Coordinating Physician Treatment Method

The “Medical-Psychiatric Coordinating Physician” (MPCP) method of treatment (previously known as the “Collaborative Psychiatry Method”) represents an enhanced approach to psychiatric diagnosis and treatment for complex or treatment-resistant cases. The MPCP method is designed to optimize accuracy and accountability in the clinical process. To do this it incorporates a formal assessment, monitoring of progress, and an ongoing dialogue with the patient/family. Multi-disciplinary input is sought as needed. As the “Medical-Psychiatric Coordinating Physician” I take charge of coordinating and integrating all aspects of the case. Guiding instruments may include psychologist- or neuropsychologist-administered tests. Every patient’s treatment is different and treatment strategies are progressively revised as requirements change.

As MPCP I take several roles:

First, I take responsibility for discovering what is wrong, beginning with the patient’s presenting problems and moving to more encompassing issues. This diagnostic process may involve psychological or neuropsychological testing administered by a psychologist or neuropsychologist.

Second, in collaboration with the patient, I create a treatment plan.

Third, I coordinate all involved activities and people, including family members, teachers, physicians, and consulting professionals. When I do not personally perform a needed service, I work collaboratively with other professionals who do.

Fourth, in collaboration with the patient, I track results and create treatment reports detailing progress and identifying work still to be done. These reports have the additional value of enhancing communication between the patient, myself, and other providers.

Finally, I directly carry out any segments of the treatment that take advantage of my particular skills. Depending on the patient’s needs, this segment might include providing interpersonal or behaviorally oriented psychotherapy, prescribing medication, and/or developing and coordinating a multidisciplinary treatment team.

My role in conducting MPCP treatment does not simply replicate functions typical of a psychiatrist/psychopharmacologist or psychotherapist. In addition to the aspects of treatment I do myself, it emphasizes comprehensive planning and implementing of complex treatment strategies. These frequently involve regular collaboration and coordination with other professionals.

It is important to note that the MPCP treatment method, with the practitioner working hand-in-hand with the patient, is often therapeutic in itself due to its organizing, clarifying, and instructional value. Patients benefit as they join in the process of planning and strategizing the treatment process.

Benefits of the MPCP Treatment Method

For Patients and Their Families:

1. Improved diagnostic accuracy: A rigorous diagnostic process conducted in collaboration with patient/family and other professionals combine to uncover the underlying issues that are responsible for the patient’s symptoms.
2. Monitoring of progress: Ongoing monitoring of progress is based on checklists the patient and I keep, self-report instruments the patient completes, and, when required, psychologist- or neuropsychologist-administered tests. This monitoring is likely to provide early and ongoing information about treatment accuracy and efficacy.
3. Accountability and coordination: As coordinator, I take responsibility for every part of the planning and treatment process. I work with each consulting professional, taking account of and integrating his or her findings. At all points in the work I collaborate with the patient and, as possible and appropriate, the patient’s family.
4. Treatment designed for patient’s precise requirements: Treatment is tailored precisely to the patient’s requirements as opposed to the one-size-fits-all model of intermittent medication consultations with a psychiatrist or ongoing, unexamined talk therapy with a psychotherapist. The type or types of treatment are chosen, modified, and fitted precisely to the patient.
5. Expense: While it may be more expensive at first when it involves psychological testing and/or the use of consultants, over time MPCP method-based treatment is usually less expensive than conventional treatment. These differences reflect the MPCP method’s focus on accurate diagnosis, progress monitoring, and modification of treatment when progress declines or stops. In other words, the likelihood that treatment will produce the desired results is distinctly improved by the rigor of the MPCP method. Also, when progress is not occurring, the patient and I are likely to know sooner and take action accordingly.

For Professionals Who Refer Patients:

1. Resource for difficult cases: While I treat a broad spectrum of patients psychiatrically, I specialize in working with complex or otherwise challenging cases. These may include patients or families with whom you have reached an impasse and would like assistance, or patients who you wish to refer.
2. Stay involved in the case: When you refer a patient to me, I can work as a consultant to you, thereby keeping you involved in the case.
3. Specialties outside your field: I can take responsibility for areas in which you may not specialize, for example, providing a medical or medication evaluation if you are a non-medical psychotherapist, or taking responsibility for psychiatric care and/or arranging for a psychological/neuropsychological evaluation if you are a physician.
4. Case management: If you desire, I am prepared to take over the complete management of a case, coordinating care and integrating the work of all professionals, thus leaving you free to do what you do best.