ELECTRO-
CONVULSIVE
THERAPY (ECT)
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WEB PARTNERS

The National Mental Health Association

American Psychological Society

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Sacred Heart Medical Center Psychiatry Department offers inpatient and outpatient Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) services for a large number of patients throughout the Northwest. Our inpatients are supported by staff on the 48-bed adult psychiatric unit, which offers clinical treatment programming, 7 days a week or by the staff on 19-bed Geropsychiatric unit which also offers age related programming 7 days a week.

PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS FOR WHICH ECT MAY BE CONSIDERED

Major depression, bipolar and unipolar depression, mania, schizoaffective disorder, psychiatric catatonic disorder, schizophrenia and other functional psychoses.

INDICATIONS FOR USE

When a need exists for rapid, definitive response, when risks of other treatments outweigh risks of ECT, or when there is a history of poor drug response.

IMPLEMENTATION

ECT treatments are done 2-3 times a week. ECT courses consist of 6-12 treatments. The number and frequency depend on the patient's response and the occurrence of side effects.

  • Of the 1200 cases per year about 57% are outpatients
  • The cost is covered in part by Medicare/Medicaid and, by most insurance carriers, after preauthorization.
  • Referral from the Primary Physician is usually required

PRACTITIONERS

Mark Chalem, MD: 455-9090
John Moulton, MD: 455-9090
David Grubb, MD: 455-9090
Carl Baum, MD: 458-5889
Penny Palmer, MD: 880-1386 (pager)
John Tran, MD: 474-5398

HOURS

Monday through Friday, 7 am - noon

For Comments or questions. Please call Barb Stagg, RN at: 474-3037.