Integrating Psychiatric Care into Primary Care Practice

For too many years, mental health and physical health have been addressed in separate silos within the health care system. Due to stigma, many patients suffering with mental health issues are never diagnosed or treated. By integrating the care of mental and behavioral health into the patient-centered medical home, outcomes are greatly improved. Due to time constraints and discomfort with content, many primary care providers find it difficult to address these important issues. An integrated care team—including primary care physicians, nurses, advanced practice professionals, behavioral health providers (licensed clinical professional counselor, licensed clinical social worker, clinical psychologists), psychiatrists, care coordinators/case managers, and clinical pharmacists, to name a few—is better able to promote health and screen for, diagnose, and treat the whole patient in an efficient and effective way.

Source: Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice - April 14, 2016 Category: Primary Care Authors: Janet R. Albers Tags: Preface Source Type: research