Student Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX4065 Patient-Centered Care Coordination
Prof. Name
Date
Preliminary Care Coordination Plan for Adult Mental Health Patients in an Acute Health Setting
This preliminary care coordination plan focuses on adult patients with mental health conditions admitted to acute healthcare settings. Such individuals frequently experience overlapping physical, cultural, and psychosocial challenges that complicate care. A coordinated approach can promote holistic recovery, enhance quality of life, and ensure continuity of care.
Physical Considerations and Best Practices
Risks
Adults with serious mental health disorders are at heightened risk of physical health complications such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic respiratory problems. Research highlights that individuals with severe psychiatric conditions have a life expectancy that is approximately 15–20 years shorter compared to the general population (Nielsen et al., 2021). Factors such as sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, limited access to healthcare, and side effects of psychotropic medications further increase vulnerability.
Best Practices
To address these concerns, several best practices should be embedded into care plans:
- Routine Health Monitoring: Incorporating regular assessments such as BMI, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profiling, and smoking history.
- Lifestyle Interventions: Offering access to structured programs for smoking cessation, nutritional support, and exercise. Studies indicate that adopting healthier behaviors such as physical activity, dietary improvements, and reducing smoking significantly improves both physical and mental health outcomes (Koomen et al., 2022).
NURS FPX 4065 Assessment 2 Preliminary Care Coordination Plan
| Physical Consideration | Best Practice Approach |
|---|---|
| Increased risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic disorders | Routine health checks (BMI, glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure) |
| Reduced lifespan in individuals with severe mental illness | Lifestyle modification programs (exercise, smoking cessation, healthy diet) |
| Medication side effects contributing to poor health | Close monitoring of psychotropic medication and early intervention |
Mental Illness
Mental illness refers to significant disturbances in thought processes, mood regulation, or behavior. These disruptions are linked to biological, psychological, or developmental dysfunctions that impair cognitive abilities and overall functioning (Stein et al., 2021).
In the U.S., approximately one in five adults experiences some form of mental health challenge annually. In Florida alone, 2.8 million adults are affected by mental health disorders, with nearly 41% reporting anxiety and depression in 2021 (National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI], n.d.). The widespread nature of these conditions underlines the importance of coordinated, evidence-based care approaches.
Cultural Considerations and Best Practices
Barriers and Challenges
Cultural stigma, misconceptions, and traditional beliefs can prevent individuals from seeking timely psychiatric help. Patients from diverse cultural backgrounds may hesitate to pursue therapy due to fear of discrimination or misunderstanding.
Best Practices
To overcome these barriers, care strategies must be culturally responsive:
- Culturally Adaptable Care: Healthcare plans should respect patients’ cultural identities, values, and preferences to build trust and improve adherence (Ahad et al., 2023).
- Culturally Competent Education: Delivering educational programs to enhance awareness of mental illness while reducing negative stigma. These can be offered through interactive workshops, family education, or community-based initiatives.
| Cultural Challenge | Recommended Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Stigma and misconceptions | Provide culturally sensitive education to reduce stigma |
| Reluctance to seek professional help | Integrate patients’ cultural values into care planning |
| Lack of awareness of mental illness | Offer multilingual and culturally tailored health education |
Psychosocial Considerations and Best Practices
Psychosocial aspects of mental illness affect how individuals think, feel, and interact with society. Challenges may include difficulty regulating emotions, strained relationships, poor coping mechanisms, and challenges in decision-making.
Evidence-Based Practices
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): Combining cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness practices to prevent depressive relapse and improve emotional resilience (Gkintoni et al., 2025).
- Emotional Support and Coping Strategies: Encouraging stress management techniques such as yoga, breathing exercises, and meditation.
- Group Psychotherapy: Providing patients with a supportive environment to foster connection, universality, and compassion. Research shows group interventions enhance self-esteem and dignity (Marmarosh et al., 2022).
| Psychosocial Need | Evidence-Based Practice |
|---|---|
| Emotional instability | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Stress management | Yoga, meditation, breathing techniques |
| Social isolation | Group psychotherapy for belonging and mutual support |
NURS FPX 4065 Assessment 2 Preliminary Care Coordination Plan
Underlying Assumptions and Uncertainties
- It is assumed that interventions such as MBCT and lifestyle modifications benefit all patients equally.
- It is assumed that culturally sensitive education reduces stigma universally.
- Uncertainties remain regarding the effectiveness of stigma-reduction programs across all cultural populations.
- Implementation challenges may arise due to limited resources in acute care settings.
SMART Goals
- Goal 1: Organize weekly MBCT sessions for adults with mental health disorders in Florida. Target: Achieve a 40% reduction in depressive symptoms within six months, measured by PHQ-9 scores.
- Goal 2: Conduct biweekly culturally tailored mental health education workshops. Target: Increase patient understanding of mental illness by 60% and reduce stigma, measured through pre- and post-intervention surveys within six months.
Community Resources
Several community-based organizations provide accessible and affordable care options that support continuity of treatment for adults with mental health needs:
| Resource | Services Provided | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Association of Central Florida (MHACF) | Peer counseling, free mental health treatment, educational programs | Phone: 407-898-0110 Address: 605 E Robinson St., Suite 450, Orlando, FL 32801 |
| Caron Florida | Individual and group therapy, CBT, DBT, psychiatric medication management, education programs | Phone: 1-855-548-0352 Address: 7789 NW Beacon Square Blvd, Boca Raton, FL |
| NAMI Florida | Advocacy, patient support, mental health awareness programs | Phone: 850-671-4445 Address: P.O. Box 302, Ocala, FL 34478 |
| Care Resource | Individual and group therapy, patient-centered care, low-cost or grant-funded services | Phone: 305-576-1234 Address: 3510 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33137 |
References
Ahad, A. A., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M., & Junquera, P. (2023). Understanding and addressing mental health stigma across cultures for improving psychiatric care: A narrative review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39549
Care Resource. (2025). Behavioral health. Care Resource. https://careresource.org/services/behavioral-health/
Caron Florida. (2024). Mental health program. Caron Transformational Care. https://www.caron.org/treatment-programs/mental-health-program
Gkintoni, E., Vassilopoulos, S. P., & Nikolaou, G. (2025). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in clinical practice: A systematic review of neurocognitive outcomes and applications for mental health and well-being. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(5), 1703. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14051703
Koomen, M., van, J., Deenik, J., & Cahn, W. (2022). Lifestyle interventions for people with a severe mental illness living in supported housing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 966029. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.966029
Marmarosh, C. L., Sandage, S., Wade, N., Captari, L. E., & Crabtree, S. (2022). New horizons in group psychotherapy research and practice from third wave positive psychology: A practice-friendly review. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 25(3), 643. https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2022.643
MHACF. (2025). About us. Mental Health Association of Central Florida. https://mhacf.org/learn-more/
NURS FPX 4065 Assessment 2 Preliminary Care Coordination Plan
NAMI Florida. (2025). Mission. National Alliance on Mental Illness Florida. https://namiflorida.org/about-nami-florida/mission/
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Mental health in Florida. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FloridaStateFactSheet.pdf
Nielsen, R. E., Banner, J., & Jensen, S. E. (2021). Cardiovascular disease in patients with severe mental illness. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 18(2), 136–145. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-020-00463-7
Stein, D. J., Palk, A. C., & Kendler, K. S. (2021). What is a mental disorder? An exemplar-focused approach. Psychological Medicine, 51(6), 894–901. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291721001185