MAPP Consultation Project
Maine is a predominantly rural state, with a population of 1.2 million. The majority of the state’s 300 psychiatrists are geographically concentrated in the lower quarter of the…
Community Projects
Postpartum Depression Project
The Postpartum Depression (PPD) Project was developed with the support of a grant from the American Psychiatric Association in recognition of…
MAPP Community Forums
MAPP also supports a number of community discussion forums (listservs), several of which are available as well to medical and mental health professionals outside of MAPP…
Consultation Project
Maine is a predominantly rural state, with a population of 1.2 million. The majority of the state’s 300 psychiatrists are geographically concentrated in the lower quarter of the state, leaving family practitioners and other primary care providers throughout the state without ready access to psychiatric consultation. The Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians has addressed this problem with an innovative program called The Consultation Project.
Developed by David Moltz, MD, DLFAPA in collaboration with MAPP and the Maine Academy of Family Physicians, and now funded through a contract with DHHS, the program links volunteer psychiatrists with rural primary care practices. An ongoing consultative relationship is developed, in which the rural practitioner calls on the psychiatrist as needed for advice and guidance. The contacts are by telephone or email, and are in the nature of “informal consultations” rather than treatment or supervision. The primary care provider (PCP), as an independent practitioner, makes the treatment decisions, informed by the consultant’s input.
What is novel about the Consultation Project is the ongoing relationship between consultant and consultee, which allows them to develop a shared body of experience, as well as the opportunity to consult on cases over time. The project has been in operation since 2004, and currently has 25 consultants serving 54 practices, with capacity for more practices to join. We believe that the project has had a substantial impact on the ability of primary care practitioners to provide quality psychiatric treatment across the state.
AAFP Article: Program that Puts FPs in Touch with Psychiatrists Helps Patients in Maine. Published September 2013 (Article will be sent in an e-mail so you can link it here.
10/7/13 – The Consultation Project highlighted in Mental Health Weekly Vol 23 #38 article – Maine psychiatrists step up to plate for strategy to address shortage. “The Consultation Project in Maine borrows from a model common in the primary care world to offer psychiatric support to generalist physicians who carry a heavy burden in mental health treatment.”
For more information, or to join the project as a consultant or consultee, please contact:
Tracy Lloyd, M.Ed., Project Coordinator
Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians
207-480-1494
OR you may contact David Moltz, MD DLFAPA
“Providing psychiatric consultation to primary care practices throughout the state of Maine.”
Postpartum Depression Project
The Postpartum Depression (PPD) Project was developed with the support of a grant from the American Psychiatric Association in recognition of the frequency, underdiagnosis and undertreatment of postpartum depression and the long term serious adverse effects of untreated maternal depression on women and their children. Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbirth and affects approximately 15% of mothers. The focus of the PPD Project is to provide training programs across medical and mental health specialties and easy access to educational materials to aid in the screening, assessment, and treatment of women who experience depression during pregnancy or the postpartum period. The PPD project also produces a newsletter which is available on this website.
- Impact of Perinatal Mood Disorders
- Patient Education Tools
- Perinatal Psychotropic Prescribing
- Diagnosis and Treatment
- PPD Screening Tools
- Web Resources
NAMI-Maine
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) provides advocacy and support for individuals and families struggling with mental illness.. NAMI Maine is a grassroots, membership-based organization established to enhance the lives of everyone impacted by mental health concerns by offering support, education and advocacy statewide.
This mission is achieved by:
- Offering compassion and supportive services
- Advocating for improved access and quality of services
- Providing education about disorders and resources for support
- Raising public awareness by promoting understanding
- Communicating the importance of peer support and lived experience
- Training volunteers and professionals throughout the state
- Fostering a statewide network of affiliates and support groups
Preventing Prescription Drug Misuse; Protecting Maine
Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians Membership
Participation is key, and MAPP and APA offer many activities geared to enrich your professional life as well as bring you educational opportunities.