Integrated Behavioral Health: Addressing Mental and Physical Health
There is a growing body of science establishing clear connections between physical health and mental health, with factors like nutrition, sleep, and stress affecting whole-body health. At PureView Health Center, we provide integrated behavioral health services designed to help support our patients with a coordinated, holistic approach. Learn more about what integrated behavioral health is, the possible benefits of integrated behavioral health services, and how to access behavioral health care from PureView Health Center.
What Is Integrated Care?
Integrated care is patient-centered care that combines many different health services to provide comprehensive care. In conventional systems, many patients experience fractured care with deep divides between general practitioners and specialists, leading to delays, miscommunications, and larger expenses for patients. Through an integrated care approach, multi-disciplinary teams work together with more coordination and more shared information to ensure better physical, mental, and emotional care.
Different Types of Integrated Care Models and Who Might Benefit Most From Them
There are many different types of integrated care across several categories. For example, patients can access primary care integration or hospital-based integration, horizontal integration or vertical integration, and so on. One of the clearest ways to organize models is to consider the focus of the integration:
Behavioral Health Integration
What is integrated behavioral health? Behavioral health integration services combine primary care and behavioral health specialists to focus on the mental, emotional, and social well-being of patients. They address concerns such as mental health conditions, coping mechanisms for stress and trauma, and substance use disorders, all of which benefit from integrated health services. Patients can expect greater coordination and convenient services, and the integration often removes the stigma associated with mental health services. It's beneficial for patients with complex disorders, and it offers greater efficiency for health insurance providers.
Chronic Disease Management Integration
This is a coordinated approach that improves patient outcomes by combining conventional medical interventions with medication management, mental health support, and nutritional support as part of overall care. People with chronic conditions can find it exhausting to receive partial treatments from different specialized care services, never feeling like they quite get a complete answer or a real solution to their symptoms. But integration offers proactive care and recognition of conditions, a more person-centered approach that doesn't respond to symptoms in isolation, and better long-term outcomes.
Whole-Person Care Integration
General health and wellness benefits tremendously from patient-centered whole-person care. All aspects of physical, social, mental, and emotional care are on one care plan. This interconnected approach provides earlier interventions, holistic treatments, and fewer barriers to care. Patients benefit because they can balance all aspects of their health.
The Impact of Integrated Care: Treating the Whole Person
What are the benefits of this health care model over traditional or fragmented approaches? Consider:
- Greater accessibility: Patients can more easily access mental and emotional support, as well as services for different aspects of physical health, without the traditional "hoops" of siloed care.
- Better coordination: Patients have more support navigating the healthcare ecosystem. The shared information reduces gaps and misunderstandings, and patients aren't sent blindly from one specialist to the next.
- Better outcomes: Ultimately, the most important aspect of healthcare is the patient's whole health. Integrated services provide better outcomes through proactive treatments, more support for chronic conditions, and fewer delays in care or even hospital readmissions.
PureView's Coordinated Approach
At Pureview, we provide highly coordinated, integrated services to optimize outcomes and provide a better patient experience. Our services include:
- Behavioral health, including school-based behavioral health programs
- Chronic disease prevention and care management
- Dental care
- Medication services
- Primary care
- Substance use disorder care
- Lifestyle management
- And more
Connect With Our Team to Learn About Integrated Care Options
We are committed to providing coordinated, comprehensive care that addresses the whole health of each individual patient. By centering well-being, we can break down silos that block fast and simple access to the correct care programs.
Contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Image Credit: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock
