AN INTERDISCIPLINARY MENTAL-HEALTH CONSULTATION TEAM IN A NURSING-HOME

The Mental Health Consultation Team (MHCT) at the Portland Veterans Af fairs Medical Center nursing home is an interdisciplinary group of men tal health professionals and primary care providers established to tri age mental health consultations, improve communication between consult ants and primary care providers, help staff translate consultants' rec ommendations into patient care, and furnish education in the managemen t of mental health problems. The MHCT has decreased the demands for fo rmal psychiatry and psychology consultations while increasing mental h ealth services through innovative use of existing staff.