Medical Services
Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s Medical Services Center provides psychiatric care and medication support for individuals receiving behavioral health treatment through the agency. Patients are typically referred to Medical Services by a behavioral health therapist or a primary care provider to ensure coordinated care that supports their overall treatment plan.
Our team includes board-certified psychiatrists and Psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners who work closely with therapists and other clinical staff to provide comprehensive behavioral health care. Services are available for young children, adolescents, adults, and older adults across a wide range of mental health needs.
Services are often recommended for individuals experiencing symptoms associated with trauma, anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and other behavioral health concerns.
Medical Services are available to individuals across the lifespan, including:
Medical Services is designed to work as part of a team-based treatment approach. Patients receiving psychiatric care through Medical Services are also actively participating in therapy or other behavioral health programs within Four Rivers Behavioral Health.
This integrated approach allows medical providers to collaborate closely with therapists and program staff to ensure treatment plans are aligned and effective across multiple services.
Our providers conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations to better understand a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and behavioral health needs. These assessments help determine the most appropriate diagnosis and guide the development of an individualized treatment plan.
Diagnostic evaluations may address concerns related to trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and other behavioral health conditions.
Medication management is an important part of treatment for many behavioral health conditions. Our medical providers prescribe and monitor psychiatric medications when appropriate, helping ensure that treatment is safe, effective, and aligned with a patient’s overall care plan.
Patients receive ongoing monitoring and support to help manage symptoms and make adjustments when needed.
As mentioned, our medical services team works in tandem with other Four Rivers Behavioral Health Services. Dr. Duncan E. Darnell, M.D. our Director of Medical Services is an integral part of Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s Children’s Day Program, OurPlace. Children and adolescents in the OurPlace program milieu by, Dr. Darnell who is unique in that he is a board-certified child psychiatrist in addition to the treatment of adults.
In addition, Dr. Laurie Ballew, D.O. ED. D. DLFAPA, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology: Psychiatry, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology: Psychosomatic Medicine and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. She specializes in geriatric psychiatry and as a board-certified addictionologist, Dr. Ballew works closely with our programs focusing on the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders in adults.
Medical Services works closely with other programs at Four Rivers Behavioral Health, including:
Center for Adult Services
Center for Specialized Children’s Services
Crisis Care Programs
Substance Use Treatment Programs
Services for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
This collaboration helps ensure individuals receive coordinated care that addresses both medical and therapeutic needs.
In addition to medical treatment, Medical Services providers offer education that helps individuals and families better understand their diagnosis, medications, and treatment options.
This support helps patients become active participants in their care and promotes long-term wellness and stability.
Our medical services staff prescribe and supervise the administration of Spravato (esketamine therapy.) Esketamine is one of the newest FDA approved medications for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation or behavior. This treatment is administered in our offices, under supervision.
Similarly, we offer a weekly injection clinic for patients who have been prescribed antipsychotic medications.
For the convenience of our patients, Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s Center for Medical Services offers an onsite lab through a partnership with Gravity Diagnostics, along with onsite pharmacies at our downtown Paducah location and Fuller Center campus in Mayfield. Pharmacy services are provided by Genoa Healthcare, a full-service pharmacy that fills all prescriptions, including those from primary care providers, and offers pre-filled pill organizers, medication support, and insurance assistance. Genoa also provides prescription-by-mail services that deliver medications directly to your home.
