Integrating Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.

Demand for mental health services has dramatically increased in recent years, raising concerns about the availability of service providers to meet these increased needs. One approach to expanding access to care is the use of highly qualified board-certified psychiatric pharmacists (BCPPs). However, the implementation of programs for integrating BCPPs has not been well characterized in community mental health settings. This column describes the development and implementation of a comprehensive practice model to incorporate BCPPs in a certified community behavioral health clinic. The authors report the results from the first 14 months of BCPP integration (based on 3,221 direct patient care interventions), offer recommendations, and highlight lessons learned.

Occupational Health and the Arts.

OBJECTIVE: Work in the visual arts, performing arts, and writing can involve exposures to occupational hazards, including hazardous materials, equipment, and conditions, but few art workplaces have strong occupational health resources. Literature searches were conducted for articles that illustrate these concerns. METHODS: Medical databases were searched for art-related health articles. Other sources were also reviewed, including, unindexed art-health publications, and popular press articles. RESULTS: Information was located that described some exposed populations, art-related hazards, and resulting disorders. Anecdotal reports were used when more complete data were not available. CONCLUSIONS: Health hazards in the arts are significant. Occupational health professionals are familiar with most of these concerns and understand their treatment and prevention. The occupational health approach can reduce the health hazards encountered by at-risk art workers. Additional research would benefit these efforts. Resources for further information are available.

Occupational Health and the Visual Arts: An Introduction.

OBJECTIVE: Occupational hazards in the visual arts often involve hazardous materials, though hazardous equipment and hazardous work conditions can also be found. Occupational health professionals are familiar with most of these hazards and are particularly qualified to contribute clinical and preventive expertise to these issues. METHODS: Articles illustrating visual arts health issues were sought and reviewed. Literature sources included medical databases, unindexed art-health publications, and popular press articles. RESULTS: Few medical articles examine health issues in the visuals arts directly, but exposures to pigments, solvents, and other hazards found in the visual arts are well described. The hierarchy of controls is an appropriate model for controlling hazards and promoting safer visual art workplaces. CONCLUSIONS: The health and safety of those working in the visual arts can benefit from the occupational health approach. Sources of further information are available.