Collaborative Care Paper

Collaborative Care
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Introduction
Developed at the University of Washington, collaborative care is a model used in the treatment of mental health conditions, with systematic follow-ups relative to the fact that these conditions tend to be persistent in their nature. There are five principles to be followed to make sure that whatever care is being offered strictly measures up to the standards of collaborative care (Nimh.nih.gov, 2015). If any of the principles is missing from the care model then it can never be referred to as collaborative care (Aims.uw.edu, 2015). One of the principles is referred to as patient-centered team care, in which shared care plans are implemented by a team within the same location addressing the mental and physical needs of the patient. The second principle refers to population-based care, where the patients are handled as part of a definitive group through a well maintained registry. The third principles refers to measurement –based treatment to target, where personal goals for the patients are defined relative to their outcome, which are measured using evidence based tools. The fourth principle refers to the evidence based care, where patients are treated using evidence based methods such as psychotherapies. The last principle refers to the health care providers being accountable when providing care,to ensure quality services and reliable outcomes.
Part 1
Disorders similarities and differences
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is one of the most researched disorders of the brain relative to its characteristics and manifestations. It is a disorder that is also commonly referred to as the manic depression and basically affects the brain of the patient(Machado-Vieira, Santin & Soares , 2004). The symptoms of a bipolar patient can be quite severe and they include the aspects of fluctuating mood swings that are quite rapid as well as shifts on the activity levels, variance in energy levels when involved in the daily tasks. Most of the patents that have been diagnosed with the disease, end losing their jobs, ruining their relationships, performing poorly in their education and other activities that require concentration and sometimes the patients may even commit suicide(Nimh.nih.gov, 2015).
One of the main causes that has been studied and identified is genetics. Ideally most of the bipolar patients tend to have the genetic coding for the disorder which as a result runs in the family(Machado-Vieira, Santin & Soares, 2004). This means that if a person has sibling or a parent that is suffering from the disease is also likely to have gene and would most likely suffer the same predicament. It is also common that most of the children that are from the families with the gene will not manifest the disorder until they are older when their brains are well developed. Studies are currently underway to establish if persons that also suffer from schizophrenia and depression also have the likelihood of developing the disorder(Machado-Vieira, Santin & Soares, 2004). The brain structures of the persons with the disorder have also been found to have some particular characteristics compared to normal patients. Children that have been found to exhibit multi-dimensional impairment have been found to have a brain structure similar to that of patients with bipolar disorder. The main treatment regimens include medication for the depression, psychological treatment to help handle the shifts and lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and sleeping patterns(Nimh.nih.gov, 2015).
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus on the other hand dies not affect that the brain but the pancreases. Su such, instead of the mood swings associated with brain functions, the body is not in a position to use the energy that is found in the food(WebMD, 2015). This may therefore present a symptom similar to that of bipolar disorder, where the patients experiences shifts in energy(Health Care Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults, 2014). Ideally patients with diabetes mellitus produce too little insulin or their body does not have the ability to use the insulin produced. As such, the basic process where the body breaks down the sugars in the carbohydrates into simple sugars such as glucose for use as fuel in the cells is impaired. Relative to the fact that, the body is not using the glucose in the blood relative to impaired insulin functions, it floods in the blood, where it causes damage to the nervous system, heart, kidney and eyes relative to the fact that the sugar leads to damaged small blood vessels. Unlike the bipolar patients, those suffering from diabetes mellitus are likely tosuffer from stroke, nervous damage to the feet, blindness, kidney and heart diseases. Like with the bipolar patients, there is the element of the disease being chronic therefore life-long and that it also impairs a patents relationships and ability to work optimally(Health Care Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults, 2014).
Efforts and resources
When taking care of a patient who haschronic diseasessuch as bipolar disorder or diabetes mellitus it takes a lot of efforts and resources to make sure that the patient is stabilized and they are leading a normal life(WebMD, 2015).In the case of the bipolar patients, they use more resources considering that other than medication, diet needs and lifestyle changes that diabetic patient’s need, the bipolar patients also needs psychological help(Machado-Vieira, Santin & Soares, 2004). This means that they need more care considering that their cases are quite severe and affect a wider range of their activities, such as relating with people and living productive lives. In the case of the diabetics, watching their diet, changing their lifestyle and getting the right medication will easily help them get by, unless the condition is severe, where it has led to damaged heart, kidneys, feet, or the eye sight(Health Care Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults, 2014).
Family care issues
When taking care of a bipolar patient it is common for family members to neglect their care towards their patient relative to the element of severity of the conditions. It is common for bipolar patients to lose their spouse over their condition as it can be quite challenging to handle a patient that has extreme mood swings, as they may be mistaken for being insensitive or uncaring(Machado-Vieira, Santin & Soares, 2004). Family members may also focus on one area of the treatment process, such as the medication and not alter the diet or the lifestyle change and the psychological assistance seriously. This will inhibit the full recovery of the patient, where they are able to take advantage of the collaborative care (Aims.uw.edu, 2015). In the case of the diabetic patients failing to follow the correct diet can be catastrophic, which is quite common. It is also common for patients and their families to neglect the full element of care for the patient, where they may only focus on the medication and diet and neglect the lifestyle changes which are as important as the rest treatment practices(Health Care Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults, 2014).
Part 2
Ethical and legal implications for RN
One of the basic legal provisions that all registered nurses should observe when taking care if the patients with medical of mental disorder is that, like the rest of the citizens, they are also covered by the civil rights under the federal and state laws. This means that before they are patients they are citizens and their rights as such, should be respected. In case they are admitted to the hospital under voluntary basis, they have the right to demand their release (Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, 2015). If they are admitted involuntarily, it can only be due to the fact that they were a danger to themselves and /or to others; this is especially applicable for the patients with mental disorders. In the case that a mental patient was admitted under emergency involuntary conditions, they can only be held for a maximum...