Patricia Fennell
Encyclopedia
Patricia A. Fennell created the Fennell Four Phase Model for understanding and treating chronic medical and mental health
conditions, trauma, and the effects of crime
. Jeffrey Turner, in his book American Families in Crisis: A Reference Handbook, considers her a nationally recognized expert in the care of chronic illnesses, trauma, forensics, and hospice care. Fennell has written several books and articles published in the media and professional press, and is CEO of Albany Health Management Associates, Inc., in Albany, New York
. Her company offers counseling, case management, and training based on her model. She also lectures on these topics at professional conferences, and community meetings.
in New York State with an undergraduate sociology degree, and received her graduate degree in social work from the State University of New York at Albany.
She began her career in social work in the hospice setting. She determined that the excellent care given to the dying could be applied to individuals with chronic illnesses. In the course of time she concentrated on working, supporting, and creating a new treatment approach for chronic syndromes. Her clinical experience with individuals in managing chronic illness, other works, and publications, have earned her a reputation as an expert in the field according to a review of Fennell's book; Managing Chronic Illness, published in Psychiatric Services. Fennell is CEO of Albany Health Management, Inc. Her company provides counseling, consulting, professional education, and doctoral training for the State University of New York
. She also engages in collaborative international research using her empirically verified "Four-Phase Model".
(CFS) experience, and that phase models may help researchers understand disparate results seen in CFS research studies. The model may also be a useful tool for lifestyle modification in age management. Physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers are instructed in her courses on how to apply her approach to patients.
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
conditions, trauma, and the effects of crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
. Jeffrey Turner, in his book American Families in Crisis: A Reference Handbook, considers her a nationally recognized expert in the care of chronic illnesses, trauma, forensics, and hospice care. Fennell has written several books and articles published in the media and professional press, and is CEO of Albany Health Management Associates, Inc., in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. Her company offers counseling, case management, and training based on her model. She also lectures on these topics at professional conferences, and community meetings.
Education and experience
Fennell graduated from The College of Saint RoseThe College of Saint Rose
The College of Saint Rose is a private, independent, coeducational college in Albany, New York, founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The College enrolls a total of approximately 5,000 students ....
in New York State with an undergraduate sociology degree, and received her graduate degree in social work from the State University of New York at Albany.
She began her career in social work in the hospice setting. She determined that the excellent care given to the dying could be applied to individuals with chronic illnesses. In the course of time she concentrated on working, supporting, and creating a new treatment approach for chronic syndromes. Her clinical experience with individuals in managing chronic illness, other works, and publications, have earned her a reputation as an expert in the field according to a review of Fennell's book; Managing Chronic Illness, published in Psychiatric Services. Fennell is CEO of Albany Health Management, Inc. Her company provides counseling, consulting, professional education, and doctoral training for the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
. She also engages in collaborative international research using her empirically verified "Four-Phase Model".
Four Phase Model
Fennell created the Four Phase Model as a framework to help clinicians comprehend and manage the integration of the experiences of patients with chronic illnesses. The four phases are crisis, stabilization, resolution, and integration. She explains that her model allows for therapeutic intervention in a flexible phase-specific manner so that individuals may integrate their illness into a meaningful life despite physical limitations. An integrated systems approach is uilized to include all aspects of an individual’s chronic illness; physical/behavioral, psychological, and social/interactive. The model recognizes a patient’s needs early in chronic illness may differ from the needs in later years, and may affect various responses to treatment, be it medical or psychosocial. Study results suggest that Fennell's model accurately describes the phases of illness adaptation that persons with chronic fatigue syndromeChronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
(CFS) experience, and that phase models may help researchers understand disparate results seen in CFS research studies. The model may also be a useful tool for lifestyle modification in age management. Physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers are instructed in her courses on how to apply her approach to patients.
Affiliations
- Fennell collaborates with DePaul University's Chronic Illness Initiative on issues related to chronically ill college students. A training program led by administrators and faculty of DePaul and Albany Health Management Associates teaches educational institutions how to develop policies and deliver services to students with chronic illness. The program is based on the FFPT model of chronic illness and DePaul's Chronic Illness Initiative support services model.
- Board of Directors of the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME.
- Editorial Board of the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
- Allied Healthcare Advisory Committee for the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
(CDC). - Professional Advisory Board of FibroAction (UK).
- Medical Advisory Panel for the Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex (UK).
- Advisory board of the National Fibromyalgia AssociationNational Fibromyalgia AssociationNational Fibromyalgia Association is a United States nonprofit organization founded to support persons with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain illnesses.-Mission:...
.
Books
- Managing Chronic Illness Using the Four-Phase Treatment Approach.
- Co-editor and co-author of Handbook of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
- The chapter on "Chronic Illness" for Encyclopedia of Social Work.
- The Chronic Illness Workbook: Strategies and Solutions for Taking Back Your Life.
Selected articles
- CFS, The Four Progressive Stages of the CFS Experience: A Coping Tool for Patients
- CFS, Sociocultural Influences and Trauma: Clinical Considerations
Selected lectures and conferences
- "The Invisible Struggle: Understanding the World of the Chronically Ill Student" Keynote Presentation by Patricia Fennell: DePaul University School for New Learning.
- Presentation of the Fennell Four Phase Treatment (FFPT) approach to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory CommitteeChronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory CommitteeThe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee was formed in response to the use of funds by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the study of chronic fatigue syndrome . The CFSAC was charted under the Public Health Service Act of the US and funded by the United States...
.