Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
The Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry service at Denver Health provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for patients with comorbid psychiatric and medical disorders. Our multi-disciplinary team consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, social workers, and trainees of all levels.
We assist both adult and pediatric patients who develop neuropsychiatric symptoms from medical, surgical and gynecologic illnesses, as well as patients with primary psychiatric illness whose conditions are complicated by medical illness.
Our staff provides expert consultation to medical, surgical, intensive care (MICU and SICU), pediatric, obstetric, eating disorder and correctional care medical units at Denver Health, offering both psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions and facilitating neuropsychological testing. We also assist non-psychiatric nurses who have behavioral health concerns about their patients.
Training in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
In collaboration with the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver Health offers a one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship for psychiatrists who seek consultation-liaison psychiatry sub-specialty training.
Addiction Consultation
The Inpatient Addiction Consult Service at Denver Health provides evaluation and treatment for hospitalized patients with substance use disorders. Our multidisciplinary team includes physicians who are board-certified in addiction, advanced practice providers, and social workers.
We work alongside primary medical, psychiatric and surgical teams to address substance use during admission and to plan for care after discharge. Depending on each patient’s needs, a consultation may include withdrawal management, starting medications for addiction treatment (such as methadone, buprenorphine/Suboxone, and naltrexone), brief therapeutic interventions, and harm reduction. We also coordinate post-hospital treatment so patients leave with a connection to ongoing care.
Pediatric Behavioral Health Services
Denver Health has two integrated pediatric behavioral health services for young patients in the hospital. In the Pediatric Emergency Department and Urgent Care (PEDUC), an integrated psychology service provides consultation, psychological evaluation, brief interventions, and referrals to ongoing treatment as appropriate for young patients with mental health, behavioral health, and substance use problems.
Similarly, on the Pediatrics and Pediatric Intensive Care Units (Peds/PICU), an integrated psychology service, PPPCL (Proactive Pediatric Psychology Consultation-Liaison) provides consultation, evaluation, therapeutic interventions, brief psychotherapy during admission, and expert recommendations for trauma-informed care for patients admitted medically with concurrent psychiatric concerns.
Infant Mental Health
Infant Mental Health is an early approach to mental health care, focusing on supporting both the child and the parents/caregivers. At Denver Health, the Infant Mental Health program begins even before birth, with an Infant Mental Health specialist joining the pregnant person's care team. Infant Mental Health specialists are available in all pediatric and family medicine clinics, in outpatient behavioral health, and in the NICU, at Denver Health.
To schedule a visit with Infant Mental Health, ask your doctor to speak with the behavioral health consultant during your visit OR ask the front desk at your Family Health Center or clinic to make an appointment with a behavioral health consultant or to schedule w/ NICU, baby has to be NICU patient and a parent can call 303-602-6277 or ask the NICU medical team.
Outside of the medical visit, Infant Mental Health specialists provide brief assessments and short-term treatment. Appointments last 20-30 minutes. Up to six treatment or assessment appointments are available per year.
Healthy Steps
Healthy Steps is a program for children from birth to age three that incorporates an Infant Mental Health specialist into every well-child check in our clinics. At a child's medical appointments, an Infant Mental Health specialist will consult with the primary care provider about mind and body health. The Infant Mental Health specialist is on call to the providers and may stop in the exam room during the appointment. They can attend an unlimited number of medical visits.
Our Services
Infant Mental Health specialists would be happy to help with any of the following common concerns:
- Adjustment to major life changes (new baby, sibling jealousy, starting school, etc.)
- Anxiety
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Bed wetting
- Behavior concerns
- Bonding and attachment
- Challenging behaviors
- Childcare and school concerns
- Depression
- Developmental concerns
- Grief related to death of a child, miscarriage and infertility
- Parenting support
- Perinatal and postpartum concerns
- Pill swallowing
- Planning for pregnancy and parenting
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Relationship concerns
- Sleep
- Trauma
- Traumatic birth experiences
- Vaccine support
- Feeding/eating
An Infant Mental Health specialist is a psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or licensed social worker with additional training in working with infants, young children and their parents/caregivers.
No, Infant Mental Health specialists do not prescribe medication. They can consult with your primary care provider and sometimes with a consulting psychiatrist about medication options to help with sleep, mood, stress and other concerns.
If you are ever in urgent need of support, please contact 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room for help.
Depending on your medical coverage, there may be co-pays for our appointments. Please ask the front desk in your clinic for more details.
An Infant Mental Health specialist's brief therapy model may not be appropriate for you or your child in all cases. Longer term, traditional therapy may also be useful for infant mental health. Part of the Infant Mental Health specialist's role may be to help connect you with therapy or other resources in the community that work with your schedule and medical coverage.
