Clinical Practice

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health establishes Practice Parameters and Guidelines and provides clinical information to assist mental health professionals in their clinical practice. The following sections by category of information are:

1. DMH Practice Parameters which identify critical factors to be considered in the provision of care.
2. Suggested Best Practices and Standards
3. LANTERMAN-PETRIS-SHORT (LPS) Information, e.g. regarding authorization, detention and/ or designation.
4. Clinical Risk Management
5. Psychiatric MH Nurse Practitioner Standardized Procedures and Practice Information
6. Clinical Information
   • Access To Services
   • Integrated Treatment

1. DMH PRACTICE PARAMETERS

LACDMH Introduction to Practice Parameters

• 1.0 Guidelines for the Use of DMH Practice Parameters / Revised March 2019
• 1.1 Use of the Recovery Model Throughout DMH Service Delivery / May 2019

LACDMH Parameters for Clinical Assessment

• 2.6 Special Considerations of Older Adults / April 2019
• 2.7 Assessment of Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health & Cognitive Impairment / Revised August 2019
• 2.8 Treatment of Co-Occurring Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment / Revised June 2019
• 2.9 Access to MH Services Post Discharge / 10/01/10
• 2.10 Psychiatric Consultation 05/21/12
• 2.11 Parameter for Hoarding Disorder 01/22/2020

LACDMH Parameters for Medication Use

• 3.2 Use of Antidepressant Medications / Revised April 2019
• 3.3 Use of Antipsychotic Medications / Revised August 2019
• 3.4 Use of Anxiolytic Medications / Revised October 2014
• 3.5 Use of Mood-Stabilizing Medications / Revised April 2019
• 3.6 Use of Psychoactive Medications in Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders / Revised June 2019
• 3.7 General Health-Related Monitoring, Interventions and Consultation / Revised May 2019
• 3.8 Use of Psychotropic Medication in Children and Adolescents / Revised 1/13/21
• 3.9 JCMHS PMAF Review / Revised May 2015
• 3.10 Use of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Individuals with Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders / Revised October 2017

LACDMH Parameters for Clinical Programs

• 4.4 The Use Of Psychosocial Rehab Interventions
• 4.6 Psychiatric Treatment of Clients in Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) and Subacutes
• 4.8 Delivery of Culturally Competent Clin. Svcs / 12-12-02
• 4.9 Parameters for Referrals to Self-Help Groups / Appendix revised 11-08
• 4.10 Parameters for Wellness Centers / 12-16-05
• 4.11 Parameters for Healthy Living Programs / 05/27/2020
• 4.12 Service Relationships in a Recovery-Based Mental Health Services / 07-26-06
• 4.13 Parameters for DMH Peer Advocates / 11-07-06
• 4.14 Parameters on Gift Behavior 2011-07-27
• 4.15 Parameters for Spiritual Support Revised 2012-05-24
• 4.16 Parameters for Family Inclusion
• 4.18 Parameters for Assessment and Treatment of Co-Occurring Intellectual Disabilities Revised November 2017
• 4.19 Parameters for Responding to Supervisorial Office Requests for Constituent-Client Services/Information (NEW – March 2018)

LACDMH Parameters for Psychotherapies

• 5.1 The Use of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• 5.2 The Use of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• 5.3 The Use of Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• 5.4 The Use of Supportive Psychotherapy
• 5.5 The Use of Psychotherapy with Children/Adolescents/Families
• 5.6 The Use of Family Therapy-Adult Children

 

2. SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICES AND STANDARDS

• The Older Adult Geriatric Field Screening Protocol / 01-05-09
• The Nursing Older Adult Assessment Form / 01-05-09

 

3. LANTERMAN-PETRIS-SHORT (LPS) AUTHORIZATION AND DESIGNATION

• LPS Designation Guidelines and Process For Facilities Within Los Angeles County, 7th Edition (Revised February 2016)
• Letter + Summary of Revisions-LPS Designation Guidelines, 7th Edition 8-24-2015
• LPS Initial/Renewal Authorization Application and Attestation, Revised October 2011
• FAQs regarding changes in LAC DMH procedures related to WIC 5150 detention September 28, 2015
• Notice of Changes For LPS-Authorized Professional Facility Staff (Non-DMH Directly-Operated and Contracted Program Staff)

 

4. CLINICAL RISK MANAGEMENT

• A. CLINICAL EVENT NOTIFICATION/MANAGERIAL REVIEW (Revised April 2017)
• B. A Clinician’s Mini Toolkit of Suicide Prevention Resources March 2018

5. PSYCHIATRIC MH NURSE PRACTITIONER STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES AND PRACTICE INFORMATION

• Psychiatric MH Nurse Practitioner Standardized Procedures / Revised 09/15
• Psychiatric MH Nurse Practitioner Signature Page for Onsite Manual /Revised 09/08/2015

 

6. CLINICAL INFORMATION

• Integrated Treatment