PORTRAIT HEALTH CENTERS LAUNCH ON-LINE NURSE NAVIGATOR FOR ADHD
The Portrait Health Centers for the Healing Arts, a multi-specialty evaluation center specializing in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities announced today the availability of a new internet resource to assist families who face the continuous challenges of ADHD. Portrait Health Centers, who became the first in the medical market to adapt the oncology Nurse Navigator model for attention deficit and learning disorders, is now providing on-line Nurse Navigator services to patients and families who do not live near a Portrait Health Center.
Dr. Jack Maggiore, Chief Healthcare Officer of Portrait Health states, “As the title implies, the Nurse Navigator is the guide who literally takes your hand to lead you through the initial evaluation and serves as your advocate when our team of specialists design personalized assessment and treatment recommendations. We encourage every parent who cares for a child who is diagnosed with ADHD or is showing ADHD behaviors to visit a Portrait Health Center for an evaluation by a Nurse Navigator.” Dr. Maggiore further explains, “Since there is no single test for ADHD, the Nurse Navigator must first rule out other conditions for which there are clinical tests. The Nurse Navigator does this through a series of questions which leads to the development of an investigative protocol unique to the child being examined.”
In cases where families are not able to visit a Portrait Health Center, the on-line Nurse Navigator provides a series of questions to obtain a comprehensive health, behavioral, educational and social history. Based on the responses to these questions, a personalized narrative report is prepared by a Portrait Health Nurse Navigator to explain the assessments recommended for a thorough evaluation of the patient.
Rosellyn Cappuccitti, Chief Nursing Officer of Portrait Health explains, “There are more than 50 disorders that present similar symptoms to ADHD. Our first job is to determine if the symptoms the child is displaying are being caused by a disease or condition other than ADHD. The task of deciphering where to begin is in itself daunting to a parent.” Nurse Cappuccitti further explains, “Our new on-line evaluation of a patient permits the creation of an effective evaluation program to first determine the cause for the child’s symptoms and secondly, to create an appropriate and effective treatment program that can be implemented for the patient locally.”
Portrait Health Centers would like to provide its resources to everyone without the restrictions of geography. Henry Warner, President of Portrait Health Centers states, “Our new on-line Nurse Navigator program is a true outreach program incorporating the technologies available to us today. With this new resource, no child or parent will be deprived of these important services because of their inability to visit a Portrait Health Center.”
Those who utilize the on-line Nurse Navigator services from Portrait Health will receive a comprehensive health history questionnaire form. Completed forms are sent to Portrait Health for review and evaluation by a Nurse Navigator, who will prepare a charted course to guide patients and their caregivers through the recommended clinical evaluations.