The vital role that America’s hospitals play in improving community health is the centerpiece of this year’s National Hospital Week 2014, which takes place from May 11 to 17.

“A community’s health depends on its hospital, and the extraordinary efforts of these individuals ensure that communities have access to care 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are prepared for both everyday emergencies and the unexpected,” American Hospital Association President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said in a press release.

The AHA is recognizing the women and men who serve in hospitals across the country and the part they play in improving community health.

Elizabeth Lietz of AHA said that this year’s theme, “Compassion, Innovation, Dedication: The Commitment Continues,” celebrates hospitals and their caregivers who remain steadfast in improving the health of their communities through heart-felt care, new methods and techniques and unwavering, unmatched devotion.

Pearl River Hospital and Nursing Home has reached out to the community and surrounding counties through their psychiatric programs. The hospital is improving community members’ quality of life through psychiatric care as well as physical care.

Program Director for Intensive Outpatient Program Greg Tillman said the IOP department is meeting a seriously underserved population of people throughout Pearl River and the surrounding counties by providing care for those who are not seriously mentally ill to the point of needing fulltime hospitalization but who require more than general mental health care.

“The program for IOP patients consists of psychiatric treatment teams who care for patients with bipolar disorder, depression, addiction and other illnesses that can benefit from two to four intensive sessions a week,” Tillman said.

The program helps keep expenses down by not keeping patients overnight. It focuses on returning the patients to a healthy state of mind where they are functioning in day-to-day life.

“At that time, when they are better, we will either return them to their primary physician or discharge them to a lower level of care. Mental healthcare has been underserved in this community for years, our programs make a difference,” Tillman said.

Another way the rural hospital is meeting mental health needs is through their programs at their Prime Care facility located at

302 Hwy 11 South, in Poplarville.

Office Manager Alicia DiMiceli said they have four providers who can see anyone with psychiatric needs, with no wait times.

The facility offers marriage or family counseling, adolescent and child therapy and one-on-one psychiatric counseling. They are considering group sessions in the future.

“We take just about all forms of insurance, Medicaid and Medicare,” DiMiceli said.

“We have many local physicians who refer their patients with psychiatric needs to us because they know we are equipped to handle them immediately, while other clinics may be backed up for weeks.”

For more information on psychiatric services offered through the Pearl River County Hospital or Prime Care Clinic call: 601.403.8284. For more information on AHA visit http://www.aha.org/