The Psychiatry Inpatient Unit (PIU) is a part of the Abu-Haidar Neuroscience Institute and is located on the third floor of Building 56 of the American University of Beirut – Medical Center (AUBMC). The Psychiatry Inpatient Unit is currently an eight-bed unit offering acute psychiatric care for adolescents and adults, across all ages.
All full-time psychiatrists have admitting privileges to the PIU. During their hospitalization, patients benefit from comprehensive psychiatric, psychological, and social services.
Mission
The AUBMC PIU is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental disorders, nationally and internationally through the following services:
- Delivering multidisciplinary clinical care for adolescents and adults, using the latest evidence-based approaches including pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments.
- Contributing to the AUBMC outstanding academic environment that fosters education, training, research, and innovative models of intervention in psychiatric neuroscience and psychosocial interventions.
- Contributing to the departmental vision seeking to destigmatize mental illness and to provide venues for educating the public about the nature of mental disorders.
- Advancing a model of care that enhances the role of patients and their families as active agents in their plan of care.
- Training the future generation of leaders in clinical psychology, psychiatry and psychiatric nursing, and neuroscience.
Scope of Services
The PIU provides patient care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week (24/7) in 3 shifts:
- 7 am – 3 pm
- 3 pm – 11 pm
- 11 pm – 7 am
Patients receive diagnostic, therapeutic, and procedural interventions such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The unit typically has a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:5 and uses a nursing assistant to help with delivery of care.
Effective care is promoted by providing resources, quality control systems, and maintenance of professional, regulatory, and organizational standards as well as collaboration with members of the healthcare team.
Functions and Services
Medical
| Psychological
| General
|
Assessment, planning, and intervention
| Assessment, planning, and intervention
| Consultation of relevant medical specialities
|
Continuous monitoring with diagnosis and treatment
| Continuous monitoring with diagnosis and treatment
| Infection control and safety management
|
Delivery of pharmacological interventions
| Patient and family education
| Nutritional support
|
Delivery of neurostimulation therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy/ECT
| Individual psychotherapy
| Physical therapy groups
|
Paraclinical work up including lab tests, brain imaging and urine drug screenings
| Art therapy groups
| |
| | Life skills groups
| |
Multidisciplinary Team
The PIU is comprised of a multidisciplinary treatment team, composed of attending psychiatrists, psychologists, registered nurses, practical nurses, a social worker, occupational therapist, art therapist, residents, psychology interns and medical students. They collaborate closely with specialists from other departments such as nutrition, family medicine, neurology, and other medical specialties, depending on patients' needs.
The PIU team works together to develop a patient-centered, comprehensive and personalized treatment plan.
Leadership
Dr. Rita Khoury was appointed medical director of the PIU in August 2023. . The medical director works to ensure overall psychiatric care is safely, effectively, and ethically delivered. She also oversees policies and procedures that govern the functioning of the unit.
The medical director is also in charge of liaising with the administration to make sure all credentialing and compliance is maintained. Additionally, the medical director ensures communication and cooperation between nurses and physicians is maintained in our collaborative care setting.
Dr. Nadia Dandan was appointed as director of psychology services on the PIU in August 2023.
She oversees patients' psychological assessments, psychoeducation, individual therapy, and safety planning. She offers a variety of short-term psychological interventions tailored to each patient's individual needs. She also meets with patients and their families to provide information regarding the patient's condition and discharge planning.
Team members
Admitting Physicians (by alphabetical order)
- Dr. Evelyne Baroud: Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry; Adult, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatry.
- Dr. Elias Ghossoub: Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry; Adult and Forensic Psychiatry.
- Dr. Rita Khoury: Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry; Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry.
- Dr. Fadi Maalouf: Professor of Clinical Psychiatry. Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry; Adult, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatry.
- Dr. Wael Shamseddeen: Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry; Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
- Dr. Farid Talih: Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry; Adult and Addiction Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine.
Nursing team
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Nurse Manager: Ms. Joelle Bedros was appointed as nurse manager of the PIU in January 2022. She oversees the nursing care of patients by supervising the nursing staff. She promotes a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors. She is responsible for maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and fostering continuous quality improvement and efficient unit operations.
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Registered Nurses: the registered nurses on the PIU conduct comprehensive assessments of patients and collaborate with the treatment team to develop and implement individualized care plans. Nursing care includes administering medications, monitoring patients' vitals, managing agitation using de-escalation techniques to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment, providing education to patients and families, facilitating group therapy sessions, and implementing behavioral techniques as recommended by the treatment team. Their compassionate and empathetic care is essential in promoting healing and resilience among patients.
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Auxiliary/Practical Nurses: They assist registered nurses in implementing the patient care plan. They directly help patients in activities of daily living. They assist the treatment team by documenting patients' observations. They also practice de-escalation techniques in case of agitation, ensuring the safety and comfort of patients.
Floor Clerks: The floor clerks manage administrative tasks such as admissions, discharges, and transfers. They schedule patient appointments for procedure provided during the patient's admission such as electroconvulsive therapy. They facilitate communication between team members and address patient and family members' inquiries while maintaining patient confidentiality.
Resident Psychiatrists: Our residents are completing specialty training in the field of psychiatry. They are often an entry point to patient care as they complete the initial assessment of patients admitted through the emergency room and accompany the patients through their entire hospitalization. Residents also cover night shifts to provide clinical care 24/7, under the direct supervision of attending psychiatrists. The psychiatry residency program at the AUBMC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education- International (ACGME-I) since July 2016.
Psychology Interns: Our psychology interns are M.A. Psychology students completing their second year of internship at the AUBMC Psychiatry department; they are key participants in the multidisciplinary team meetings. They may initiate intake evaluations or low intensity therapy services as deemed appropriate, under the supervision of full-time psychologist faculty members.
Social Support: Ms Joesmar Ibrahim is the social worker on the PIU. She is responsible for conducting social and financial assessment of patients' needs. She also conducts weekly life skills group activities for patients. As part of her role, she is involved in team rounds, patient discharge planning, and referrals to community resources, after discharge.
Art Therapy: Ms. Mona Chebaro is the Art Therapist at the PIU. She holds group sessions with admitted patients to help them with the creative process of symbolizing feelings, thoughts, and experiences through images and art. This experience provides patients with powerful means of expression and communication and allows patients to render their feelings and thoughts in a friendly, safe, and comfortable environment.