Summary
- Provides physical health, mental health, and substance use treatment
- Takes a person-centered, holistic approach
- Offers a wide range of services
Health care is changing. While people may have different opinions about how it should change, the need for change is clear. One common goal is to make health care more efficient. One way of reaching this goal is through a concept called integrated care. It is not a new idea. But, the push for health care reform has brought it to the forefront. Better care at reduced costs has become a major focus. High quality care, delivered in a more efficient way, and at reduced costs, has become a major focus.
What is integrated care?
It can sometimes be a complex matter. In clear terms, it is the mixed treatment of physical health, mental health, and drug use. The idea is to take care of all of a person’s needs in one setting. This can take place in either a primary care practice or a mental health center.
Signs of integrated care
The degree to which a practice is integrated can differ greatly. Some common traits include:
- A person-centered approach
- A holistic (mind, body, soul) philosophy
- A wide range of care offered
- An electronic record shared between behavioral health and medical providers
- Strong communication between all staff members and the person receiving care
An ideal integrated practice is a one-stop setting for almost all health care needs. There is no reason to send a person to one more facility for mental health care, for instance. Instead, the person can see an in-house psychologist right down the hallway. Subjects like healthy living and drug use may be addressed at the practice as well. In this way, the person’s total health care can be better tracked and handled. The stigma some people feel about meeting with a mental health doctor is also reduced since it’s in a medical setting. The chance of the person canceling or never setting an appointment is reduced.
Roles linked to integrated care
To give this range of services, an integrated care practice must have the available staff. Due to cost restraints, each staff member may need to do many functions. Proper training, teamwork, and cross-training are a must. Some of the likely jobs at an integrated practice include:
- Doctors
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Therapists
- Nurses
- Care managers
- Medical assistants and front desk staff
- Counselors
- Social workers
- Health coaches
- Dieticians
Again, some staff may need to fill more than one of these roles and work as one team. To make sure this happens, all areas should meet together on a regular basis. Sometimes people have complicated health issues or need help with transportation, housing, or with finding specialty medical care. In these cases, it is helpful to have a care manager. This person helps to makes sure all the individual’s needs are being met. Any issues the person is having with services can be dealt with through the care manager.
Finding an integrated health care practice
Finding one near you is not always an easy process. A web search may pull up many practices that are said to be integrated. Often though, these refer to centers that are for dual eligible Medicare and Medicaid participants only.
A local community health center or community mental health center is a good place to start. You can look up their website and see what services they offer. You may have to call and ask questions or visit them in person. Services should be displayed on posters or brochures within the lobby area.
Summary
- Provides physical health, mental health, and substance use treatment
- Takes a person-centered, holistic approach
- Offers a wide range of services
Health care is changing. While people may have different opinions about how it should change, the need for change is clear. One common goal is to make health care more efficient. One way of reaching this goal is through a concept called integrated care. It is not a new idea. But, the push for health care reform has brought it to the forefront. Better care at reduced costs has become a major focus. High quality care, delivered in a more efficient way, and at reduced costs, has become a major focus.
What is integrated care?
It can sometimes be a complex matter. In clear terms, it is the mixed treatment of physical health, mental health, and drug use. The idea is to take care of all of a person’s needs in one setting. This can take place in either a primary care practice or a mental health center.
Signs of integrated care
The degree to which a practice is integrated can differ greatly. Some common traits include:
- A person-centered approach
- A holistic (mind, body, soul) philosophy
- A wide range of care offered
- An electronic record shared between behavioral health and medical providers
- Strong communication between all staff members and the person receiving care
An ideal integrated practice is a one-stop setting for almost all health care needs. There is no reason to send a person to one more facility for mental health care, for instance. Instead, the person can see an in-house psychologist right down the hallway. Subjects like healthy living and drug use may be addressed at the practice as well. In this way, the person’s total health care can be better tracked and handled. The stigma some people feel about meeting with a mental health doctor is also reduced since it’s in a medical setting. The chance of the person canceling or never setting an appointment is reduced.
Roles linked to integrated care
To give this range of services, an integrated care practice must have the available staff. Due to cost restraints, each staff member may need to do many functions. Proper training, teamwork, and cross-training are a must. Some of the likely jobs at an integrated practice include:
- Doctors
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Therapists
- Nurses
- Care managers
- Medical assistants and front desk staff
- Counselors
- Social workers
- Health coaches
- Dieticians
Again, some staff may need to fill more than one of these roles and work as one team. To make sure this happens, all areas should meet together on a regular basis. Sometimes people have complicated health issues or need help with transportation, housing, or with finding specialty medical care. In these cases, it is helpful to have a care manager. This person helps to makes sure all the individual’s needs are being met. Any issues the person is having with services can be dealt with through the care manager.
Finding an integrated health care practice
Finding one near you is not always an easy process. A web search may pull up many practices that are said to be integrated. Often though, these refer to centers that are for dual eligible Medicare and Medicaid participants only.
A local community health center or community mental health center is a good place to start. You can look up their website and see what services they offer. You may have to call and ask questions or visit them in person. Services should be displayed on posters or brochures within the lobby area.
Summary
- Provides physical health, mental health, and substance use treatment
- Takes a person-centered, holistic approach
- Offers a wide range of services
Health care is changing. While people may have different opinions about how it should change, the need for change is clear. One common goal is to make health care more efficient. One way of reaching this goal is through a concept called integrated care. It is not a new idea. But, the push for health care reform has brought it to the forefront. Better care at reduced costs has become a major focus. High quality care, delivered in a more efficient way, and at reduced costs, has become a major focus.
What is integrated care?
It can sometimes be a complex matter. In clear terms, it is the mixed treatment of physical health, mental health, and drug use. The idea is to take care of all of a person’s needs in one setting. This can take place in either a primary care practice or a mental health center.
Signs of integrated care
The degree to which a practice is integrated can differ greatly. Some common traits include:
- A person-centered approach
- A holistic (mind, body, soul) philosophy
- A wide range of care offered
- An electronic record shared between behavioral health and medical providers
- Strong communication between all staff members and the person receiving care
An ideal integrated practice is a one-stop setting for almost all health care needs. There is no reason to send a person to one more facility for mental health care, for instance. Instead, the person can see an in-house psychologist right down the hallway. Subjects like healthy living and drug use may be addressed at the practice as well. In this way, the person’s total health care can be better tracked and handled. The stigma some people feel about meeting with a mental health doctor is also reduced since it’s in a medical setting. The chance of the person canceling or never setting an appointment is reduced.
Roles linked to integrated care
To give this range of services, an integrated care practice must have the available staff. Due to cost restraints, each staff member may need to do many functions. Proper training, teamwork, and cross-training are a must. Some of the likely jobs at an integrated practice include:
- Doctors
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Therapists
- Nurses
- Care managers
- Medical assistants and front desk staff
- Counselors
- Social workers
- Health coaches
- Dieticians
Again, some staff may need to fill more than one of these roles and work as one team. To make sure this happens, all areas should meet together on a regular basis. Sometimes people have complicated health issues or need help with transportation, housing, or with finding specialty medical care. In these cases, it is helpful to have a care manager. This person helps to makes sure all the individual’s needs are being met. Any issues the person is having with services can be dealt with through the care manager.
Finding an integrated health care practice
Finding one near you is not always an easy process. A web search may pull up many practices that are said to be integrated. Often though, these refer to centers that are for dual eligible Medicare and Medicaid participants only.
A local community health center or community mental health center is a good place to start. You can look up their website and see what services they offer. You may have to call and ask questions or visit them in person. Services should be displayed on posters or brochures within the lobby area.