Jewish Family Services takes on practitioner who can prescribe

Jewish Family Services has hired a practitioner who can prescribe medication for its outpatient mental health clinic, to help people get the care they need.  

Michele Roush, an advanced practice nurse practitioner, joins the organization after working at Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in Wauwatosa and as a nurse for 20 years in several different clinical and community settings.  

Roush takes an individualized care approach when working with her patients, she said.  

“My goal is to listen to what each person’s unique situation is and work together with them on a treatment plan that works for them,” she said. “Prescribers can prescribe medication all day long, but if you don’t have a collaboration with your patient on the treatment plan, it’s not going to work for the patient.” 

As an advanced practice nurse practitioner, Roush can diagnose, treat and prescribe medication for patients. She is an experienced practitioner with expertise in medication management, psychiatric assessment and patient advocacy.  

Roush “brings extensive clinical expertise and a compassionate, patient-centered approach to care,” Jewish Family Services said in a statement. “She is skilled in crisis intervention, therapeutic communication and cultural competency.  (She) has successfully diagnosed and treated patients with a variety of mental health disorders while maintaining ethical decision-making and empathy.” 

Some 2,500 individuals receive mental health and counseling and social services, case management programs and affordable housing through JFS each year. The clinic itself provides services to those dealing with chronic mental health issues and disorders at its Jackson Street location in downtown Milwaukee.  

In Milwaukee “you get a range of people. There’s a spectrum,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic background is. Mental health concerns can affect you regardless, it’s just if you are in a more vulnerable population, it’s going to have a greater effect on your ability to function.”  

Roush is accepting new patients. Jewish Family Services asks patients who need medication management services or have been waiting to resume care to contact its office to schedule an appointment. The outpatient mental health clinic accepts most forms of insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.