Clinical Practice - Department of Mental Health

DMH PRACTICE PARAMETERS/GUIDELINES/SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICES/INFORMATION

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:

DMH Practice Parameters which identify critical factors to be considered in the provision of care.
Suggested Best Practices and Standards
LANTERMAN-PETRIS-SHORT (LPS) Information, e.g. regarding authorization, detention and/ or designation.
Clinical Risk Management
Psychiatric MH Nurse Practitioner Standardized Procedures and Practice Information
Clinical Information
- Access To Services
- Integrated Treatment
Clinical Communications with Clients and Families/Other Individuals Involved in the Client’s Care (New)
- DMH MEMO DECEMBER 12, 2017 – Frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding receiving and sharing client information with family members, friends or other individuals involved in the client’s care
- DMH MEMO JUNE 28, 2016 – Providing information and notification to the families and significant others of patients involuntarily detained in Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) facilities

1. DMH PRACTICE PARAMETERS

LAC DMH 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

LAC DMH Parameters for Clinical Assessment

2.1 Assessment/Management of Clients at Risk for Suicide / Revised November 2002
2.4 The Use of Telepsychiatry – Revised March 2014
2.5 LAC DMH Parameters for Clients at Risk for Danger to Others / Revised July 2014
2.6 Discharge Planning For Older Adults
2.7 Co-Occurring Cognitive Impairment Assessment Parameters / Revised 5/29/13
2.8 Co-Occurring Cognitive Impairment Treatment / Revised 4/2011
2.9 Access to MH Services Post Discharge / 10-01-10
2.10 Psychiatric Consultation 05/21/12

LAC DMH Parameters for Medication Use

3.1 DMH Policy 306.02 Standards for Prescribing and Managing Medications / Revised February 2011
3.2 Use of Antidepressant Medications / Revised April 2019
3.3 Use of Antipsychotic Medications / Revised May 2016
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 Dual Diagnosis Clients / Revised October 2014
3.7 General Health-Related Monitoring, Interventions and Consultation / Revised February 2017
3.8 Use of Psychotropic Medication in Children and Adolescents / Revised December 19, 2018
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

LAC DMH Parameters for Clinical Programs

4.2 Staff Auth to Initiate Involuntary Detention
4.3 Treatment Non-Compliance in OP Settings
4.4 The Use Of Psychosocial Rehab Interventions
4.5 Treatment of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse / January 2002
4.6 Psychiatric Treatment of Individuals in IMDs
4.7 Clinical Supervision / Revised 12-4-02
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 / Revised January 2008
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
4.17 Parameters for the Determination of Insufficient Client Engagement of Adults at Risk for Suicide
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)

LAC DMH Parameters for Psychotherapies

2. SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICES AND STANDARDS

Grief and Mourning / DMH/ICAN
Hoarding Fact Sheet / DMH Countywide Older Adult Programs
Psychotropic Guidelines for Children/Adolescents / Revised 3-21-12 has been deleted and replaced by 3.8 Use of Psychotropic Medication in Children and Adolescents in the category above entitled “LAC DMH Parameters for Medication Use.”
Survey Regarding Psychotropic Guidelines for Children/Adolescents / 01-04-08
The Older Adult Geriatric Field Screening Protocol / 01-05-09
The Nursing Older Adult Assessment Form / 01-05-09

Standards from the DMH Managed Care Division