Depression and anxiety disorders affect so many of us. Healthcare providers in every field have patients with mental health disorders and often don’t know the best way to treat them or best place to refer. Each one of us has also struggled with our own mental health needs at least one point in our careers. As providers, we want to be able to provide the best possible care to our patients. But where do we turn?
That’s where my guest, Dr. Mikal Bailey, DMSc, PA-C, MT(ASCP) comes in! Dr. Bailey has been a PA for over 20 years, with almost all of his career focused on the neurosciences. Dr. Bailey was tired of sitting across from patients with mental health needs and not having good treatment options for them. So he opened his own outpatient mental health treatment facility!
To learn actionable steps on how we can all become better, more compassionate healthcare providers when it comes to addressing our patients’ mental health needs, listen to this episode of The PA Is In.
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Dr. Bailey currently works as the owner & CEO of Stillwater Health, a group of outpatient mental health care centers. Dr. Bailey is also the creator of and leads several other corporations including CoodiCare, Inc., Elevation Health, and Inspire Health, his own medical billing and coding company and a medical marketing company.
On Episode 263 of The PA Is In, Dr. Bailey discusses actionable tips for addressing mental health concerns that any provider can implement, regardless of what field you’re working in. Dr. Bailey and I also discuss the road from clinical PA to entrepreneur. If you’re thinking of one day taking the leap to building your own business, tune in to hear steps that will help you succeed.
Becoming An Entrepreneur
Dr. Bailey has been a PA for 20 years. Prior to going to PA school, he worked in a clinical lab, then reproductive medicine, followed by dabbling in medical illustrations and finally teaching. After graduating PA school, Dr. Bailey started working in neurosciences.
After working in a private practice, Dr. Bailey realized that he liked the business-side of a medical office. He started learning more about the business aspect of healthcare and later opened his own business.
The Difference in Stillwater Health
Stillwater Health is an outpatient mental health treatment facility. No referral is needed for patients.
Dr. Bailey was tired of sitting across from patients with mental health needs who also had all the physical manifestations of those needs and not having good treatment options. Instead of treating with a barrage of pills, his facility uses IV ketamine, S-ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation. These interventions have quick response rates and have been shown to have high long-term efficacy rates. Patients can also come back in for boosters as needed.
The Barrier of Non-Traditional Treatments
We need to normalize thinking about mental health. Our culture does not talk about stress or mental health issues. In addition to this, providers aren’t taught how to address mental health in school or in training. However, it’s normal to struggle with and have challenges with mental health.
We need to provide a safe environment where patients feel comfortable sharing what they’re struggling with. There is a physical change in the brain that occurs with mental health diseases – this is nothing the patient has control over. Once we understand this as providers, we can provide more compassionate care to our patients. And once patients understand that they don’t have control over the physical changes occurring in their brains, they can be more open to accepting treatment.
Healthcare providers should ask themselves if they’ve experienced judgment in their pasts. If so, start by acknowledging that. Take the time to study yourself as a person, not just a provider. You can then provide greater compassion to your patients. Dr. Bailey also recommends that providers be open to vulnerability with their patients.
The Road to Entrepreneurship
Dr. Bailey always studied and analyzed the business-side of where he worked – everything from reimbursements to RVUs to dealing with insurance companies. He also read many books on business, including books by physicians who had left clinical practice to open a business.
Dr. Bailey learned coding and billing, how to file an insurance claim, etc. He eventually transitioned from co-owner to sole owner of a previous business before starting his own business.
If you’re interested in starting your own business, Dr. Bailey recommends that you read books and talk to other entrepreneurs. You should have a selfless mindset and genuinely care about other people.
Connect with Dr. Bailey
- Website: stillwaterhealthky.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stillwaterhealthky
Other Posts and Videos You’ll Love
Episode 263: From the Exam Room to the Boardroom: Listen to the podcast | Watch on YouTube | Read the blog
Episode 242: Leadership, EMR Efficiency & Taking Control of Your Mental Health: Listen to the podcast | Watch on YouTube | Read the blog
Episode 161: You Are a Person First & a PA Second: Listen to the podcast | Watch on YouTube | Read the blog post
