Right Track Medical Group, which opened its doors this month, is on a mission to change the way people view and receive mental healthcare.

According to Dr. Katherine Pannel, psychiatrist and medical director for Right Track Medical Group, the Right Track difference begins from the moment a patient enters the waiting room.

“Our goal is to address a real need in North Mississippi,” Pannel said in a recent news release. “In our area, people who need medication for mental health issues often have to wait weeks and drive out of town to see a psychiatrist. Now these patients can get access to the care they need quickly and close to home.”

The clinic provides outpatient mental health services for people ages 18 and up. Services include group coping skills therapy, one-on-one counseling, family counseling and medication management.

Clark Hunt, a licensed professional counselor and Treatment Coordinator for the practice, said the clinic makes an effort to focus on patient privacy. In some offices, patients might have to wait for hours in a main waiting room, but at Right Track, patients will have the option to wait for their appointment in one of the private sub-waiting rooms available.

Even when a patient is waiting to check out at the end of their appointment, Hunt said, they are guided into a private stall to speak with staff. Part of providing not only privacy but also prompt and adequate care, he said, is having all parties under one roof.

“One of the benefits of having psychiatrists and therapists in one location is being more effective in terms of coordinating mental healthcare,” Hunt said. “Having a physician-led treatment team tailoring a plan for each patient will be beneficial.”

Right Track Medical Group is strictly an outpatient mental health clinic and is not affiliated with any inpatient care provider. Those facing a severe mental health crisis should still seek help at their nearest emergency room, according to the clinic’s website.

For some, mental health problems are an ongoing private struggle. An estimated 43 million people in the United States experience some type of mental illness each year.

A mental health issue, Hunt said, is just as serious as a visible condition, like a broken bone. Providing immediate care to unseen conditions, he said, is key to making a difference in patients’ lives.

“Many people seem completely fine, but are actually dealing with a lot of anxiety or depression below the surface,” Hunt said. “We want to see them get better, and we want to see it happen as soon as possible.”

Right Track Medical Group is located in Oxford at 1203 Medical Park Drive. For more information, visit https://www.righttrackmedical.com.