Working as a behavioral health professional in the correctional environment is a fulfilling, rewarding career path for numerous psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals across the country. With advances in technology and integrated healthcare models, correctional behavioral healthcare has evolved into what many say is a sophisticated practice with remarkable advantages for the practitioner.
Professional Satisfaction
Kelly Hedtke has been with CMS for five years, first as a Mental Health Clinician and now as Mental Health Director for Macomb County Jail in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and says the opportunity to treat patients in a correctional setting is highly rewarding.
“A lot of people have misconceptions about what it’s like to work in a correctional environment so they choose other career paths instead,” said Kelly. “But you gain satisfaction in successfully treating a population that some people might try to stay away from. I find that most of my patients do want to get better and get treatment for their conditions. If you just take a little time with them, it makes a world of difference in their lives. Being able to do that for my patients is very satisfying.”
Dr. Thomas Allen, Lead Psychologist at Westville Correctional Facility adds that patients are often very appreciative of the treatment his staff provides, seeing them as part of a team working toward a common goal.
“For the most part, we are able to see that we are making a positive impact in our patients lives,” said Dr. Allen. “They are very appreciative of the fact that we are there to help. A lot of my staff get thanks from their patients, and while it’s not necessary, it’s nice to know most of the guys here are open and grateful for the treatment we provide.”
Flexibility
Many CMS behavioral healthcare professionals say they enjoy the flexibility that the company is often able to provide – whether through flexible scheduling or telebehavioral health opportunities.
“Our telebehavioral healthcare model allows providers to be more efficient by providing services to multiple sites that may be spread far apart instead of commuting for six hours for a three hour shift and then commuting to the next site,” said Dr. Sheryl Salaris, Corporate Psychiatric Consultant. “We are a big enough company to have a variety of options available to us and we leverage technology to best meet the needs of our patients and practitioners.”
Dr. Allen points out that CMS’ flexible scheduling and “headache-free” environment also encourages a more balanced, professional lifestyle for practitioners.
“Here we have people doing four 10-hour shifts if that works better for them,” said Dr. Allen. “Even if they come in five days a week, it’s better than in other settings which typically require night and weekend work – you don’t have those hours here. You don’t have all the administrative worries you do when you’re in private practice. The flexibility allows you to focus on work, but also focus on your life outside of work for a more balanced lifestyle.”
Your Voice is Heard
Dr. Salaris believes that a big draw for her and many of her colleagues is the focus CMS places on the individual, giving each provider the opportunity for their voice to be heard.
“I’m not with CMS just by random chance,” said Dr. Salaris. “I studied the industry and could have joined any company in the field. A large part of why I chose CMS was the individual focus they maintain on their people. It’s something I haven’t seen anywhere else. Here, if you have big ideas and suggestions for a different way to do things, we are going to listen to you. We’re a big company, but we haven’t lost sight that our people are our best resource."
Adjusting to Corrections
While CMS offers many professional advantages to the behavioral health professional, Kelly states that for those new to the correctional environment, there will likely be an initial period of adjustment.
“It’s not the most glamorous of settings and it takes a little getting used to the environment, but you just have to focus on your patients and be non-judgmental of them, which I would hope anyone in behavioral health is anyway,” said Kelly. “It’s an adjustment compared to traditional settings, but you’ll be part of a supported, integrated team and enjoy very rewarding patient work. It’s a great experience to have as a behavioral health professional.”