While Mercy Community Healthcare has been addressing the physical needs of individuals and families in Franklin and surrounding communities since 1999, it has offered mental health support services and counseling since 2004. Because of the integrated healthcare Mercy provides, it holds a special place in the hearts of those they serve.
This is because at the foundation of everything Mercy does lies compassion. Mercy is a Christ-centered, prayer-driven organization that was established to provide compassionate and convenient healthcare services to patients of all ages. The broad range of integrated primary healthcare offerings includes sick and well visits, counseling and psychiatry, chronic disease management, and assistance with social services. The staff opens their caring hearts to every patient and family, and is committed to treating the whole person - body, mind and spirit.
On any given day, to say the staff at Mercy is extremely busy is an understatement. And with today’s uncertainty and worry brought on by the pandemic, they are experiencing an increase in the number of patients seeking counseling services. Almost 1,200 visits were made to the counseling center in July 2020 compared to approximately 500 in July 2019. Says Jonathan Boye, Mercy’s Chief Behavioral Health Officer, “Many people have lost their jobs and subsequent health insurance due to the pandemic, and are living in a state we refer to as ‘constant adjustment disorder.’” He explains, “Many of us are fearful during this time of significant misinformation, uncertainty and isolation. People are worrying about their own health and the health of their families and friends, not to mention all the other daily concerns. The pandemic has forced us into a state of ‘fear of the unknown’ and constantly living on the edge. Added to these worries is concern about possibly contracting the flu this winter, all in addition to the enormous worry about Covid.”
The counseling center provides integrated mental and behavioral health services to children and adults. Licensed therapists work hand-in-hand with the patients’ primary care physician, psychiatrist and/or psychiatric nurse practitioner to care for the whole person. These providers help guide patients to discover their own unique identities and navigate life’s challenges in a comforting and encouraging environment.
Services include individual, family and marriage counseling, play therapy, group therapy, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), PCIT (parent-child interaction therapy), and now telehealth. Jonathan stresses that the ability for patients to use Mercy’s telehealth services has been a tremendous benefit for those more comfortable discussing their concerns virtually versus in person, whether it be due to Covid or simply their communication preference. Currently about 42% of Mercy’s patients are using telehealth services, compared to 78% during the summer months.
Dr. Anne Fottrell, Clinical Director of Psychiatry at Mercy, adds, “It’s intuitive that people are more anxious now. We all do better with some structure, and today that’s just not possible. In addition, the social unrest in our country has added more apprehension. Struggles with mental health have always existed, and now our country’s social unrest, combined with the pandemic, have given way for some individuals to be struggling even more.” The most important service Mercy is offering right now is compassion. Because at the end of the day if some compassion is shown, it’s been a really good day.
Mercy accepts TennCare (Medicaid), CoverKids, Medicare and most commercial insurance plans. In addition, they offer a sliding
scale, self-pay program to help assist uninsured and under-insured patients, which is based on family size and income.
Mercy Community Healthcare
1113 Murfreesboro Rd., Ste. 319 | Franklin, TN 37064
615.790.0567
122 E. Commerce Street | Lewisburg, TN 37091
615.814.3400
www.MercyTN.org
Pull quote for page 1: “The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action.” -- Mother Teresa
Call out for page 3:
Mercy will be hosting its annual Fall Fundraising Dinner virtually this year on Friday, Nov. 6. Proceeds benefit Mercy’s mental health services, which include counseling and psychiatry. More information can be found at MercyTN.org/falldinner.