{"id":375,"date":"2018-03-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eccovia.com\/index.php\/2018\/03\/22\/why-integrated-care-models-must-include-behavioral-health-screening\/"},"modified":"2024-03-13T15:47:41","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:47:41","slug":"why-integrated-care-models-must-include-behavioral-health-screening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eccovia.com\/blog\/why-integrated-care-models-must-include-behavioral-health-screening\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Integrated Care Models Must Include Behavioral Health Screening"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Providing increased access to mental health resources has long been a key concern for the nation’s healthcare system. While obstacles remain — including issues of adequate insurance coverage, overcoming stigmas, and provider accessibility — the conversation has turned in recent years. Behavioral health treatment is now widely viewed as a critical component to solve a wide variety of societal ills such as opioid abuse, youth suicide, and violence.<\/p>\n

One of the simplest — yet most effective — methods to increase the number of patients receiving behavioral health treatment is to increase the number of patients who are screened for behavioral health issues. This can be achieved with an integrated care model that incorporates behavioral health into primary care treatment.<\/p>\n

Integrated care is defined as the practice of incorporating mental health care into primary care settings and incorporating primary care into mental health care settings. For example, a pediatrician may screen patients for anxiety and depression while treating a patient with chronic disease. Conversely, a patient already diagnosed with behavioral health needs may prioritize seeing a behavioral health provider while ignoring primary care. In this situation, the behavioral health provider can provide basic primary care such as checking height, weight, blood pressure, and other vital stats during a behavioral care visit.<\/p>\n

Integrated care takes many forms, with no right or wrong method. Differences result from organizational philosophy, provider preferences, geographical circumstances, and other factors. More important than the precise type of integration model followed is a commitment by all parties to provide integrated care.<\/p>\n

The SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions (CIHS) has defined six different collaboration levels. Here is a breakdown:<\/p>\n