NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As Horizons CEO Mike Garrett prepares to retire at the end of the month, the change to more telehealth services initially prompted by COVID has been one of the bigger changes in his 41 years in the field.
"We had done, probably eight to ten percent of our services telehealth, primarily to our area offices, prior to the pandemic," Garrett said. "Then, within a week to ten days, we converted to about 95% of our services. That's trickled down. We still see a number of people that prefer to be seen face to face. I would say we fall into that 25 to 30% now."
One of the reasons that someone might need to go in to Horizons in person is to make sure any applicable medications are monitored.
"We have a medical department," Garrett said. "We have two psychiatrists on staff and five mid-level prescribers and when anybody comes in to the center, we get their vital signs first. Height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, those type of things. That's critical for the med provider to assess the individual, the impact the medication is having on them, are there any side effects and then what they need to help that individual in that particular session."
The different types of medications are also another innovation within Garrett's career.
"A primary focus with the development of medications is to control side effects," Garrett said. "The side effects are the number one reason that people stop taking medications and we want compliance as much as we can, so they can have a better life. There's a constant effort to decrease side effects, increase effectiveness, so that you have greater effectiveness with medication."
Garrett's last day will be June 30.