East Tennessee Psychiatrist & Inpatient Services

Our inpatient treatment team is led by a psychiatrist (for all of our East Tennessee area locations) and includes psychiatric nurses, social workers, activity therapists, clinical pharmacists, and psychiatric technicians.

Why Would I Need To See A Psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in treating those with mental illness. If you are struggling with mental health issues, a psychiatrist can help with prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. However, generally it’s best to start with a visit to your primary care doctor if you think you have a problem—a mental condition may be caused by a physical problem (and vice versa).

What Is The Difference Between A Psychiatrist And Other Professionals?

Because a psychiatrist is medical doctor, they train through four years of medical school and four years of internship and psychiatric residency. As a result, psychiatrists can focus on differentiating between mental illness and other conditions that can appear to be a mental illness. In addition, psychiatrists are skilled at recognizing the side effects mental illness and treatment can create in your body.

Examples of these include:

Lastly, psychiatrists can prescribe medications and psychotherapy as treatments for many mental health conditions. Anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder are often treated successfully with just medication, and a combination of medication and psychotherapy can also make for an effective treatment for many with mental disorders.

What Are Inpatient Services?

Ridgeview’s psychiatrists can provide service for outpatient treatments, but sometimes a more intensive level of treatment is needed to ensure safety in treating an individual in crisis. Our inpatient services offer help for those in crisis with specialized care and treatment.

Acute episodes of mental illness or co-occurring disorders may necessitate a stay in the 16-bed inpatient unit in Oak Ridge to stabilize individuals in crisis with a safe and structured environment.

Services include psychiatric assessment and evaluation/medication management, social work services including individual and family interventions and aftercare/discharge planning, educational and therapeutic groups, and 24-hour Registered Nursing care.

Individuals in need of emergency treatment or who would like additional information regarding admission may call 1-800-870-5481, 24-hours a day. For more information about inpatient services, please contact Sharon Young, RN-BC, Director of Inpatient Services, at (865) 482-1076 Ext. 1128 or direct (865) 276-3857.

Facilities may make referrals for admission by calling 865-276-3893.