Belynda Veser, MD, a psychiatrist for the Center of Behavioral Medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital, will speak about the journey through Alzheimer’s on Tuesday, Sept. 20 in the St. Luke’s Board Room. She will discuss: What is geriatric psychiatry; what to expect during inpatient treatment; medication management; types of available psychiatric and medical testing; purpose of a treatment team; and discharge planning options.
After Dr. Veser’s presentation, residents will have the opportunity to meet members of the Geriatric Psychiatric Treatment Team for a question and answer session. Becky Brodar, outreach coordinator, and Stephen Cefalu, LCSW, will be available.
A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Veser earned her undergraduate degree, BSN, from the University of Delaware in 1991. She graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1995 with a doctor of medicine degree before completing her geriatric psychiatry fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). From 1995-1999, she completed a residency in psychiatry at MUSC.
Dr. Veser’s experience includes being the clinical instructor MUSC Department of Psychiatry from 1999 until the present, general adult private practice from 1999 – 2004, a psychiatric consultant for the public defender’s office and staff physician in the emergency department at Charleston Memorial Hospital. Dr. Veser joined St. Luke’s Hospital medical staff in 2006.
“As Alzheimer’s progresses, behavioral problems are common,” explains Dr. Veser. “Alzheimer’s patients can become easily agitated and have difficulty with both long and short-term memory, have problems with judgment and begin to have difficulty with such basic daily activities as dressing, eating, grooming and using the bathroom. Some of the most common problematic behaviors include: agitation, aggression, combativeness, delusions, hallucinations, insomnia, and wandering. Behavioral symptoms may be the result of a treatable problem such as pain, infection, discomfort and can be treated through both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments.”
You can join Dr. Veser as she explains treatment options for Alzheimer’s and offers strategies for managing the disease on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the St. Luke’s Hospital Board Room. Space is limited, so please call 894-2408 to reserve your spot.
Confidential screenings are being provided by professionals through St. Luke’s Hospital’s Center of Behavioral Medicine on Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., at 56 Hospital Drive, Suite 3B, Columbus, located in the St. Luke’s Hospital Medical Park. An appointment is necessary, call 828-894-2408.
– article submitted by Jennifer Wilson