In a rather enlightening excursion to the Fulton County Behavioral Health Department, direct support professionals (DSPs) were given a first-hand look at the various operations within the unit, as reported by Fulton County's recent announcement. This behind-the-scenes tour not only broke down the day-to-day activities but also brought to light some intriguing discussions on the inner workings of medical record-keeping and media production.
According to Fulton County's release, Paula Ridgnal, a Medical Records Specialist, detailed the tour's focus, speaking to the curiosity of one DSP in particular, "We like to expose our individuals to different things. One of our DSPs said they wanted to come and see what you all do." It seems the tour provided a comprehensive experience, as attendees explored not only the department facilities but also delved into topics as varied as the nuances of televised commissioner meetings and the implications of live broadcasting without a 7 second delay.
What might typically fly under the radar for most county residents, the Behavioral Health Department's operations offer a backbone of support that is essential yet often unnoticed. The tour highlighted this, opening up the conversation about the division between Fulton Films and FGTV and introducing the department's personnel, delineating the scope of their roles and contributions to the county's health services.
An additional and perhaps unexpected takeaway from the tour was a peek into where interviews and shows are filmed, pulling back the curtain on the media side of public health, and fostering a deeper understanding among the DSPs of the intricate fusion of health and media, showcasing the dedication and multifaceted nature of the team's daily endeavors. In Ridgnal's own words, "It was very interesting and I'm glad I pushed forward to do it," providing testament to the value of such cross-departmental interactions, which she detailed further, "We talked about a lot of interesting things like what happens during the commissioner meeting, what happens when you don't have a 7 second delay, where you all film interviews and shows, the split between Fulton Films and FGTV, the people who work here and what they do, etc." Ridgnal told the Fulton County's press team.
