Dr. Abhilash Desai Joins Keswick Multi-Care Center

BALTIMORE—May 8, 2011—Keswick Multi-Care Center, a long term care facility in north Baltimore, has announced that it has contracted with Sheppard Pratt Physicians, PA for onsite psychiatric services.  Representing Sheppard Pratt is Dr. Abhilash Desai, who will serve as Medical Director of Memory Care and Psychiatric Consultant for the Special Care Unit of the nursing home. In this position, Desai will be responsible for overseeing the care of Keswick’s residents with cognitive and mental health issues and he will implement policies, procedures and best practices. He will also oversee training and continuing education for the staff.

In addition to his role as Medical Director at Keswick, Desai is the Director of the Memory Clinic in the Outpatient Neuropsychiatry Program and Medical Director of geriatric psychiatry for Sheppard Pratt Health System.   Dr. Desai came to Sheppard Pratt from St. Louis University School of Medicine, where he was an associate professor in the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry.

In addition to his academic and professional work, Desai is also the co-author the book Psychiatric Consultation in Long Term Care: A Guide for Health Care Professionals, released in October 2010 through the Johns Hopkins Press. The book offers a basic framework for a humanistic, team-based approach to meeting the needs of elder persons with mental disorders in long-term care facilities.

“Studies show that residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are at a greater risk to suffer from psychiatric disorders,” said Dr. Desai. “Because of the aging process, psychiatric disorders are often not identified.  This is a population that is generally underserved in the area of psychiatric diseases. With my extensive background in geriatric psychiatry, I am confident that I will be able to meet the needs of the patients at Keswick to help keep everyone healthy.”

“Dr. Desai is very accomplished in the field of psychiatry and geriatrics, and we are looking forward to working with him as he lends his experience and knowledge to the programs at Keswick,” said Susan Push, Director of Memory Care at Keswick.

Desai is on the editorial board of the “Journal of the American Medical Directors Association” and was selected by peers as one of the best doctors in St. Louis by St. Louis Magazine in 2009 and 2010.