New Option Offered for Psychiatric Care on Maui

Maui Memorial Medical Center, courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Mental health patients on Maui have a new option in treatment.

A Partial Hospitalization Program was established at the Maui Memorial Medical Center in November that treats individuals with serious mental health needs, who do not require hospitalization.  The MMMC program is one of only two such programs in the state, and the only one on Maui.

The program, run through the hospital’s Behavioral Health Department, and funded through the HMSA Foundation, is an intensive outpatient service for psychiatric patients.

Hospital officials say it provides a level of care more intensive than typical outpatient treatment, but less restrictive than an acute hospital admission.

PHP provides individualized, coordinated, comprehensive and interdisciplinary treatment from professionals in psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work, nursing, and activity and occupational therapies.

Hospital officials say PHP can serve as a step-down program for patients who no longer require acute hospitalization.

Non-hospitalized patients can apply for admission on the recommendation of their primary mental health provider.