Emotional Factor of Healing Emphasized
from Better Health magazine, Winter,
2004
“Instead
of waiting for patients to come to us, we’re taking
our services directly to them,” said David Schwemer,
Director of Patient Care Services for Danville Regional’s
Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services.
“Many of the hospital’s services involve
crises for individuals and their families, and they
need someone to talk to, someone who will understand
their feelings and enable  them
to constructively move beyond the immediate situation.
We’re pleased to fulfill that role.”
Schwemer notes that this approach stemmed from experience
with patients in the new Heart Center of the Piedmont.
“We realized that those undergoing open-heart
surgery would naturally have anxiety about that procedure,
as would their families,” he said. “We see
them before and after surgery, and this approach has
been very well received.  We
saw immediately that this could be applied to other
service lines, such as cancer care.Currently, we have
a team member who works full-time with heart patients,
and another who works part-time with cancer patients.
I can foresee a time when this type of care is seen
as routine.”
Schwemer adds that the health of the body and the mind
are interrelated.
“There’s an increasing body of knowledge
showing that a person who’s positive and emotionally
strong will have a quicker recovery from a physical
problem.”
Another important service Psychiatry and Behavioral
Health Services is now performing is working with patients
in the Pain Clinic. “Those in pain often have
some degree of depression,” said Schwemer, “and
we’ve found that those who have good emotional
health are also better able to manage their pain. This
is another way we’re reaching out, not expecting
people to come to us.”
Schwemer is quick to credit hospital administration
for this enlightened attitude. “Some hospitals
are finding traditional behavioral health services unprofitable,
and as a result are closing them down,” he said.
“Our administration endorses this outreach approach,
knowing that our services help patients prepare better,
feel better, and be more satisfied with their care.”
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